Jared Gaither News

Left tackle Max Starks agreed to a one-year contract with the San Diego Chargers to help protect Philip Rivers ' blind side.

Dec 16, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy and defensive tackle Sione Fua and defensive tackle Andre Neblett celebrate after sacking San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers as running back Curtis Brinkley and tackle Kevin Haslam look on during the fourth quarter at Qualcomm Stadium.

Give the San Diego Chargers credit. They were forced into a bad situation, and they answered it by securing arguably the best player remaining on the free-agent market.

San Diego Chargers, including Melvin Ingram come together during the first day of voluntary workouts for the team.

The draft is over, and rookie mini camps are beginning around the league. San Diego Chargers newcomers D.J. Fluker , Manti Te'o and Keenan Allen are all set to compete for starting jobs at their respective positions.

According to an article by Bill Williamson on espn.com , the San Diego Chargers have the worst left tackle situation in the NFL .

The month of May is about as close as the NFL gets to taking a breather. The draft has come and gone, and training camps will not begin until late July.

Scoffing at the notion of draft overkill, I'm writing a six-part draft review for each AFC West team.

The Chargers were hot on the trail of tackle Bryant McKinnie last week before McKinnie decided to return to the Ravens on a two-year deal, a decision that left San Diego without a surefire starter at left tackle.

Bryant McKinnie would have been Jared Gaither 2.0 and Chargers fans should be happy he's not coming to San Diego.

New Chargers tackle King Dunlap is greeted by former Philadelphia teammates during introductions before game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

After the news came down on Thursday that Bryant McKinnie had re-signed with the Baltimore Ravens despite their best efforts to woo him away, the San Diego Chargers head back to the drawing board considering their left tackle position.

December 23, 2012; Jacksonville, FL, USA; New England Patriots running back Danny Woodhead scores a touchdown during the first half of the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New England Patriots at EverBank Field.

Ravens free agent left tackle Bryant McKinnie visited with the Dolphins this week, but they didn't seem to be in a hurry.

The NFL Draft came and went, and the San Diego Chargers still have the same gaping hole at left tackle.

New Chargers management and coaching staff faced their largest paramount task with a successful draft.

It's one of the most underrated positions in the NFL. It always has been. Wait, you're telling me that THREE left tackles went in the first FOUR picks of the 2013 NFL Draft !? So much for that old clichA©. Even though the left tackle is making a comeback in today's pass-happy NFL where keeping the quarterback upright is of the utmost ... (more)

Draft are in the books and the San Diego Chargers still have not filled their years-long gaping void at left tackle, and thanks to trading up in Round 2 for linebacker Manti Te'o now don't have a fourth-round pick.

Former Alabama lineman D.J. Fluker, right, worked out for an NFL official during Alabama's second pro day for NFL scouts, Thursday, April 11, 2013, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

So many questions for the San Diego Chargers' rookie brain trust, and so many ways they can go in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday night.