Chargers take Jake Slaughter in the second round; Browns take Austin Barber in the third

Jake Slaughter (66) was taken by the Chargers in the second round (Photo by Chris Spears)

People keep underestimating Jake Slaughter, much to their detriment. A couple of years ago Slaughter didn’t make first, second or third team All-SEC when the coaches voted, yet that same year he was a consensus first team All-America by all the major services. He followed that up with an All-SEC and second team All-America year in 2025.

Mel Kiper, who did consider Slaughter the best center in the 2026 National Football League Draft, had Slaughter going in the fourth round. Like the SEC coaches in 2024, he underestimated Slaughter.

The Los Angeles Chargers didn’t. Friday evening the Chargers chose Slaughter in the second round with the 63^rd overall pick in the draft.

The Chargers, who recently signed 6-year veteran center Tyler Biadaz to a 3-year, $30 million deal, announced Slaughter as a guard. At guard he will compete with Trevor Penning (left) and Cole Strange (right) for a starting job. Penning has a 1-year deal worth $4.5 million while Strange was signed for two years and $13 million.

As a late second round selection, Slaughter is expected to get a 4-year deal worth somewhere in the $7.5-7.7 million range.

Ryan Kelly of CBS Sports wrote: “Jake Slaughter is a powerful, athletic center who plays with a consistent anchor, even against bigger, more powerful defensive tackles. He excels at moving defenders off the line of scrimmage and uses his low pad level to win the leverage battle. Whether he’s blocking between the tackles or finding targets in open space, his combination of power and mobility allows him to sustain blocks and create clear lanes for running backs.”

Another who defied the odds was Florida left tackle Austin Barber, taken by the Cleveland Browns in the third round with the No. 86 overall pick. Most mock drafts had Barber going mid-to-late fourth round. Since the Browns took Utah left tackle Spencer Fano with the ninth pick in the first round, Barber is expected to shift over to the right side where he will compete with 8-year veteran Tytus Howard.

Barber is expected to get a 4-year deal in the $6-6.2 million range.

From Matt Miller of ESPN: “I've been a vocal critic of the Browns' draft strategy since I've been old enough to talk, but their front office is putting together a very solid class with the idea of building a foundation for a quarterback to be added in the 2027 draft. Barber will join first-rounder Spencer Fano on the offensive line, and he could be a Year 1 starter at either left or right tackle given his experience at both spots in college, just like Fano. Barber's 39 college starts will help him see the field early, but he has to clean up his punch timing and lower body technique.”

Slaughter is the second Gator selected. Thursday night, defensive tackle Caleb Banks was chosen by the Minnesota Vikings with the 16^th pick of the first round. Banks spent most of the 2025 season injured, but his play at the end of the 2024 season plus his measurables at the combine had him considered late first to early second round. The Vikings, however, already list Banks as the starting nose tackle in their 3-4 scheme. Banks is slotted to get a 3-or-4-year deal valued in the $21-22 million range.

Ben Solak of ESPN wrote: “His 2024 film was electric, showing a highly dynamic and powerful defensive tackle who can penetrate on one play and swallow up space on another. But Banks has broken his foot multiple times since that 2024 season and played only three games in 2025. It's risky to take big players with foot injuries, as those don't often go away. But Banks was a clear first-round (and arguably top-10) pick if injuries weren't considered. The Vikings are taking a big swing on an extremely thin position after losing both Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen this offseason. If this pick hits, their line takes a huge leap – as do their playoff odds.”

Five more Gators are expected to be taken in rounds four through seven when the draft concludes Saturday.

DRAFT SCOREBOARD

Big Ten (29): First round (10); second round (9); third round (10)

SEC (36): First round (7); second round (15); third round (14)

ACC (14): First round (6); second round (2); third round (6)

Big 12 (14): First round (6); second round (5); third round (3)

Notre Dame (3): First round (2); second round (0); third round (2)

Group of Five, etc. (3): First round (1); second round (1); third round (1)