Predicting San Diego Chargers' Biggest Moves This Offseason
The San Diego Chargers are in the thick of the playoff hunt this season, but they certainly have some improvements to make once the offseason begins.
Five big roster moves, including adding an All-Pro left tackle and re-signing a key defender, should be at the top of the Chargers’ wish list heading into 2015.
These roster moves are based on both noteworthiness and plausibility. Yes, Randall Cobb would look good in the powder blues, but all five transactions have to fit within the Chargers’ $25.7 million offseason cap space, as projected by OverTheCap.com.
Despite the budgeting, there are still some flashy predictions in this slideshow. Let’s start with help on Philip Rivers’ blind side.
Signing Titans Offensive Tackle Michael Roos
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Chargers left tackle King Dunlap is a free agent after the 2014 season. Re-signing Dunlap wouldn’t be a bad move—his pass protection is adequate—but San Diego should aim higher.
Rivers has been masking his poor offensive line for years, and it has led to injuries and inconsistencies for the veteran quarterback. It’s time to get him a Marcus McNeill-like blindside protector in Michael Roos, the best offensive lineman in free agency.
Roos needed knee surgery this season, which limited him to just five games. In 2013, the three-time All-Pro was one of the league’s best tackles, with only three penalties committed and three sacks allowed all season, according to The Washington Post. His presence is needed with Von Miller and Khalil Mack in the division, and he could be what Jared Veldheer is now with the Cardinals.
Roos will likely command a fairly high amount, but at 32 years old, it won’t be anything ridiculous. There aren’t many playoff teams with cap space in need of a left tackle next season—if Roos wants to go to a contender, it will have to be San Diego.
Re-Sign Cornerback Brandon Flowers
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San Diego’s current starting cornerbacks, Brandon Flowers and Shareece Wright, will both be free agents after the 2014 season. The Chargers must do everything to retain Flowers, the unit’s top cover man, or their secondary will fall apart.
Flowers has made the most of his one-year deal, proving that his weak 2013 was due to system fit, not talent. The Chargers couldn’t be happier with the acquisition—they rank 14th in defense versus No. 1 receivers, a huge jump from their second-to-last ranking the year before, per Football Outsiders.
Flowers and Jason Verrett could be a premier cornerback duo for years to come, and the Chargers should do anything to make that dream a reality.
The Chargers could retain Flowers with a contract that averages $9 million a year—a bit below the Joe Hadens and Patrick Petersons of the world. It makes sense given his injury issues and shorter-than-ideal stature. He seems to be happy in San Diego, so he’ll at least mull over whatever the Chargers offer him.
Flowers picked the Chargers as a free agent last year—expect him to do the same in 2015.
Sign Raiders Center Stefen Wisniewski
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The Chargers are hurting at center like no other team in NFL history. Now on their fifth center this season, they need stability at the position with veteran Nick Hardwick becoming a free agent and a likely retiree, if last year is any indication.
Current Oakland Raiders center Stefen Wisniewski is the answer to all of the Chargers’ problems. He would bump Chris Watt back to his natural guard position and give Rivers an anchor in the middle.
He is fourth among centers in pass-blocking efficiency (a stellar 98.1 percent), per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), despite having a rookie quarterback under center. He also has the Raiders’ highest run-blocking grade at 4.4, per PFF (subscription required).
According to ESPN’s Bill Williamson, Wisniewski “will command a solid contract but not a salary-cap killing deal.” If Williamson is correct, the Chargers should be able to grab both Roos and Wisniewski to repair the offensive line. Besides, San Diego isn’t too far from Oakland.
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Cut Running Back Donald Brown
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The Chargers need to make sure they have enough money to sign Roos, Flowers and Wisniewski. Cutting free-agent bust Donald Brown is the most obvious way to make extra room—San Diego would save nearly $5.5 million the next two seasons by cutting Brown at the start of the 2015 season, per OverTheCap.com.
Brown was signed to a three-year contract over the summer, but he failed to deliver in a change-of-pace role. He is averaging a plodding 2.5 yards per carry, has dropped several passes and has made damaging mistakes on special teams. His pass blocking is decent, but the Chargers can find that skill for significantly cheaper than $4 million.
It’s an absolutely defensible move. Although Ryan Mathews could be leaving San Diego after this season, running backs have become a cheap commodity to find via the draft and free agency. Cutting Brown is inevitable at this point.
Restructure Linebacker Donald Butler’s Contract
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Chargers inside linebacker Donald Butler, who signed a mammoth contract extension after the 2013 season, has a cumulative Pro Football Focus grade of minus-21.9 (subscription required), second-worst at his position. Before his season-ending injury, Butler’s role was diminishing due to this startling decline. He missed tackles, failed to get off blocks and looked lost in coverage.
Unfortunately, cutting Butler is completely out of the question, as pointed out by Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune: "Butler is having a D+ season. And if these 13 games are indicative of what's to come from him, the Chargers have a big problem. His signing bonus of $11.1 million is guaranteed. Putting about $9 million in dead money on the salary cap next year all but rules out releasing him."
The Chargers must get Butler to restructure his contract if they want extra room to sign free agents and draft picks. At this point, a good chunk of his lavish deal is dead weight, and it’s unlikely he’ll turn it around in 2015.
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