The Chargers agreed to terms Tuesday on a three-year contract with right tackle Trey Pipkins III.
The deal, which cannot be made official until the start of the new NFL league year at 1 p.m. PT Wednesday, was confirmed by a person with knowledge of the situation but not authorized to speak. publicly.
Pipkins, who was an unrestricted free agent, remains with the Chargers after establishing himself as the team’s starter in 2022.
Along with his development, Pipkins received praise from coaches and teammates last season for his perseverance while playing through a nagging knee sprain.
A third-round pick in 2019, Pipkins was selected as a draft out of Sioux Falls small school. He played primarily on special teams and as an injury replacement his first three seasons.
Pipkins and Storm Norton shared snaps for most of training camp last year until Pipkins was named No. 1 before the start of the regular season.
He then started 14 games and played 92% of the Chargers’ offensive snaps. Pipkins was ranked 64th overall among tackles by Pro Football Focus.
His return means the Chargers could release veteran left guard Matt Feiler and replace him with Jamaree Salyer, a sixth-round pick a year ago who proved capable of starting in 2022.
The rest of the Chargers’ offensive line includes center Corey Linsley, left tackle Rashawn Slater and right guard Zion Johnson.
Linsley is considered one of the best in the NFL at his position. Slater (in 2021) and Johnson (in 2022) were first-round picks. Slater made the Pro Bowl as a rookie before missing most of last season with a torn bicep.
