Joe Barksdale Re-Signs with Chargers: Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

The San Diego Chargers bolstered their offensive line Monday by bringing back offensive tackle Joe Barksdale.

The team took to Twitter to announce the news, noting that it agreed to terms with Barksdale on a four-year deal. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Tuesday that the deal is worth $22.2 million with $10.5 million guaranteed.

He played one season for the Oakland Raiders, who selected him in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft, before joining the St. Louis Rams in 2012. After three years in St. Louis, he signed a one-year deal with the Chargers before the 2015 season and showed enough to merit a new contract.

Barksdale's durability is one thing that immediately jumps out, especially since he will be returning to a San Diego offensive line that injuries decimated in 2015. According to Pro-Football-Reference.com, Barksdale appeared in all 16 games in each of the past three campaigns.

In fact, he split time between right and left tackle last year because San Diego continued to suffer injuries up front.

King Dunlap (ankle), Orlando Franklin (knee) and D.J. Fluker (concussion), among others, dealt with physical setbacks throughout the year. While Barksdale's versatility was critical, “right tackle will be his envisioned home for 2016 and beyond,” according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Gehlken also noted Barksdale's teammates voted him as San Diego's lineman of the year in 2015 and shared this quote from the tackle: “We got the deal done. I’ll be signing [Tuesday].”

Per Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus, Barksdale was the only Chargers offensive lineman to finish with a PFF grade above 50.0 (79.3) last year, which is telling, since Football Outsiders ranked San Diego as the 31st-best offensive line in the league in terms of run blocking.

The inconsistency up front was the primary reason rookie running back Melvin Gordon struggled to break through with only 3.5 yards per carry, but Monday’s news made it clear the front office didn’t see Barksdale as part of the problem.

Keeping Barksdale gives the Chargers some continuity up front as they look to improve on last year's 4-12 record and last-place finish in the AFC West.