San Diego Chargers Could Lose Both Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill

Two of the San Diego Chargers' key roster pieces may not be back with the team next season. Given how much the Bolts struggled this year, that could make things difficult as they trudge through on uncertain offseason. 

Marcus McNeill is the team's franchise left tackle, and when they gave him a six-year, $48.98 million contract in October of 2010, they expected the now 28-year-old to protect quarterback Philip Rivers' blind side for a long time. But McNeill has playing in just 20 of the team's last 32 games and has been limited by neck and back problems.

The Auburn product is currently recovering from another neck issue that forced him to finish this season on injured reserve. He will reportedly not be healthy enough to be cleared by team doctors any time soon, which means his 2012 salary will not be guaranteed. Some now expect the Chargers to waive him in order to save more than $10 million against the salary cap.

While they could try to either re-work his deal or re-sign him after waiving him, that is unlikely. McNeill is a stud when healthy, so another team is likely to take a risk on him. If the Chargers cut him loose, they will likely lose him for good without a suitable replacement on the roster.

Vincent Jackson is currently an unrestricted free agent, and San Diego is unlikely to use its franchise tag on him again this season. Instead, Jackson will hit the open market, and while he and the Chargers are both open to working out a long-term deal, the Bolts have a lot of holes to fill and can't spend all their money to lock up one player.

Jackson is likely to break the bank as a 29-year-old two-time Pro Bowler with size and big-play ability. Jason LaCanfora explains that Jackson will have plenty of suitors, and that could mean the Chargers will be priced out of any war to get him back. LaCanfora does not expect Jackson to be back in San Diego.

So to go along with an absolute lack of depth along the offensive line and holes at safety and outside linebacker, the Chargers are likely to have to replace their top playmaker and their franchise left tackle this offseason.

That's a lot of work, and while they'll have plenty of money under the cap if they do cut McNeill loose, they still have a number of key guys to re-sign, like fullback Jacob Hester and running back Mike Tolbert.

It should be a long and interesting offseason in San Diego.