The Los Angeles Chargers have acquired offensive lineman Trevor Penning from the New Orleans Saints, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Compensation details have not yet been announced.
Penning is a familiar name to Bolts fans, as many speculated he could be the team’s pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, when the Chargers instead selected Zion Johnson. A former Northern Iowa standout, Penning turned heads that spring with his freakish athleticism (Relative Athletic Score) and mean-streak demeanor.
Known as a mauler who plays through the whistle, Penning’s calling card has always been physical run blocking more than polished pass protection. The Saints recently shifted him inside to left guard in hopes of better leveraging his power, versatility that now gives the Chargers some much-needed flexibility up front.
With Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt both sidelined for the year and Mekhi Becton continuing to battle durability issues, Los Angeles now has a collection of linemen including Becton, Penning, Jamaree Salyer, Trey Pipkins, and Foster Sarell who have each logged experience at both guard and tackle. The unit lacks star power, but Mike Devlin and Greg Roman will have options to shuffle combinations and find a workable five. The group’s number one priority will be protecting Justin Herbert and reigniting the ground game.
Stay tuned to StormCloud for further trade details and in-depth analysis once compensation terms are revealed.
Popper confirmed today that Penning was working out at left tackle and right tackle.
Ryan approves of this. He’s been watching All-22 of Penning and thinks he was terrible at Guard, but is a much better run blocker than Pipkins as a tackle.
Not that he’s a world beater, but at this point we need competent bodies for depth. He will at least give us a better option than Sarell. he has been playing LG, but they aren’t moving out Zion for him, so I wonder if he lands at RG or RT? maybe they push Becton out to LT and plug Penning in at RG? At least this gives them some flexibility, even if the options aren’t perfect.
My guess is that he lands at RG. Becton has proven unable to stay on the field. Foolish to count on him down the stretch. My guess on the depth chart:
All things considered, I think Hortiz has done a good job filling in the cracks. We can (and should) criticize the lack of interior OL moves in the off season. That should not detract the moves Joe made in the last 2 months to find serviceable players.
Sorry – one additional point: Becton, if fully healthy, will be starting over Penning at RG.
If Becton is healthy would you plug Penning in at RT over Pipkins until Hart returns?
Penning was a pretty terrible tackle, so I guess it depends on Pipkin’s health. Dude’s had knee issues for the last several seasons. In Penning, you have a large dude that can maul in the run game, but struggles in space as a tackle. Maybe Penning’s the 6th offensive lineman on passing downs?
“The Chargers acquired Penning from the Saints on Tuesday in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round draft pick, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.”