2012 NFL Free Agents: San Diego Chargers Wise in Letting Vincent Jackson Walk

Given their recent contract issues, the San Diego Chargers are making a smart move in not re-signing Vincent Jackson.

According to Jason La Canfora from the NFL Network, the Chargers are not expected to bring back Jackson. 

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"I don’t see any way he’s back [in San Diego]. The Chargers won’t franchise him, they’ve come out and said that,” Jason La Canfora said on NFL Network. “There’s been acrimony between the two sides over the years and there are too many teams that need receiving help, St. Louis, San Francisco and Tampa are some teams off the top of my head. Somebody is going to give him big bucks.”

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Of course, nothing is completely set in a stone yet. Jackson could always decide to come back. However, things haven't worked out in the past, so it would benefit Jackson more to test the free agency market.

(Update:  Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch suspects the Rams will be interested in free agent Vincent Jackson, which is just more proof that Jackson should be looking elsewhere, and the Chargers shouldn't care about it.) 

San Diego would have to shell out a ton of money to bring Jackson back. If they weren't willing to do it during the past couple of years, there's no point in doing it now. 

With guys like Dwayne Bowe, Reggie Wayne, DeSean Jackson, Brandon Lloyd, Steve Johnson, Marques Colston and Mike Wallace available in free agency, the Chargers have plenty of options to find a solid replacement for Jackson. 

Parting ways is a smart move for both parties. Jackson will get top dollar elsewhere, which is something he has been coveting for a while now. The 6'5", 230-pound wideout can still perform at a high level and some team out there would love to have him. 

After finishing the season strong and winning four of their last five games to salvage the season and go 8-8, the Chargers need to shake things up. 

Their best bet would have been to start a new coaching regime, but they decided to keep Norv Turner on board. His days are definitely numbered, though. With a full offseason of work ahead, if Turner and the Chargers stumble again, he has to go. 

Granted, if management doesn't go get him an elite wide receiver to replace Jackson, it will be difficult for him to win. 

That makes it seem as though the Chargers need to re-sign Jackson no matter what, but that isn't the case at all. There's a lot of talent in the free agent market. Plus, the Chargers are in good position to select a skilled wide receiver in the 2012 NFL draft. 

Finding someone to fill the void that Jackson would leave wouldn't be hard, so there won't be a scapegoat for Turner if the 2012 season doesn't end well. 

Philip Rivers will no doubt miss Jackson, as he is an excellent threat out wide. However, Rivers is talented enough to make big things happen without him.

The Chargers have to elevate their game to new heights next season, and even though letting Jackson walk may seem like a step in the wrong direction, there are a number of players that can step in right away to help San Diego win.