5 Cuts That Could Create Cap Space for the San Diego Chargers
Cap space won't be much of an issue for the San Diego Chargers in 2015.
At long last, GM Tom Telesco has the necessary funds to put together a contender. After going 9-7 the past two seasons with minimal cap space, the Chargers will now have an estimated $25 million to play around with. And as Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune wrote, Telesco could add another $15 million or so on top of that.
The following article breaks down five cuts San Diego could make leading up to next season that might provide some extra cap relief. Cutting players is never easy, but it's the nature of the business when you're an NFL GM.
** All salary info provided by Spotrac.com **
ILB Reggie Walker
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Walker provided some much-needed depth during the 2013 season when injuries ravaged the linebacking corps, and the Chargers rewarded him with a two-year deal last March to stay on as a reserve for the often-injured Manti Te'o and Donald Butler. Walker wound up missing five games in 2014, though, as an ankle injury kept him out of action during Weeks 4-6, 7 and 9.
Kavell Conner and Andrew Gachkar saw more playing time with Walker out, and by season's end, both became regular contributors on defense. San Diego could save $1 million in cap space by cutting Walker, who becomes expendable now that Gachkar has risen to the occasion.
TE John Phillips
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Phillips has caught five passes and scored one touchdown in his Chargers career; his role the past two seasons has been handling the grunt work on special teams and occasionally coming in on offense to block. That job description will pay him nearly $1.5 million next season.
The reserve tight end will count more than $2 million against the cap in 2015, while cutting him would save $1.4 million. If San Diego can get Phillips to restructure his deal, he might be worth keeping around. Every roster needs a couple of blue-collar players, and Phillips has proven himself a hard worker.
K Nick Novak
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In four seasons with the Chargers, Novak has made just over 86 percent of his field-goal attempts and set multiple team records. In 2013, he set a single-season record for efficiency, connecting on 34-of-37 attempts. Novak made history again in 2014 when he passed John Carney for consecutive field goals made with 32; the previous mark was 29.
But as good as Novak is at putting balls inside the uprights, he rarely sends them out of the end zone on kickoffs. Just 10 of Novak's kicks stayed in the end zone while the other 67 were returned for 1,488 yards—the most allowed by any team last season. San Diego practically gave away yardage before the defense even took the field.
Now, employing a kickoff specialist isn't unheard of in the NFL. Jordan Gay handled kickoff duties for the Buffalo Bills last season while Dan Carpenter focused solely on place-kicking. The Chargers could certainly go this route, but having two kickers takes away a roster spot that might be better served elsewhere.
Cutting Novak would save the team more than $1 million in cap space next season. He has two years remaining on the four-year contract he signed in March of 2013.
** kickoff stats provided by Sporting Charts **
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OLB Jarret Johnson
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Johnson will count $7.5 million against the cap in 2015, the fourth-highest on the Chargers roster. Cutting him would save the team $5 million in cap space, but Eric Williams of ESPN.com is in favor of bringing Johnson back at the right price.
Johnson has been a steady contributor the past three seasons for defensive coordinator John Pagano, and as Williams explained in his article, "He’s the type of player that could take on a reduced role, still be effective and not complain about the lack of playing time."
I, for one, like the idea of keeping Johnson on board. He's a team player and a valuable asset in the locker room for the younger guys. Tourek Williams and Jeremiah Attaochu have shown flashes at outside linebacker but neither is ready for a starting role.
RB Donald Brown
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Telesco is backing Brown after a down year in San Diego, putting full confidence in the ex-Indianapolis Colts running back despite career-lows in rushing last season. Offensive coordinator Frank Reich was also high on Brown, telling Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune:
"Donald’s been what we wanted him to be. He’s a very smart player. He hasn’t had to carry the load running the ball. But for the role that we’ve played him in, he’s played smart; he gets the job done. I think he grades out high week in and week out. I just think he’s an excellent player who’s a great team player and makes us better as a whole offense.
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In his article, Krasovic argued that the Chargers' love of Brown may be over the top, and while chemistry with Philip Rivers should be better next season, he doesn't see the 27-year-old showcasing more "big play" ability for the Bolts.
A concussion in Week 5 against the New York Jets forced Brown out of the next three games, but for the remaining 13 games, he was healthy and given plenty of opportunities to cement himself as the primary back. Injuries to Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead early on opened the door for Brown. Against Buffalo in Week 3, Brown had a career-high 31 rushing attempts but finished with just 62 yards.
Rookie free agent Branden Oliver filled in for Brown during his recovery and took control the rest of the way. The Chargers shied away from Brown in the running game at that point, but they continued to use him as a receiver out of the backfield, which he still does well.
The prospect of releasing Brown would mean about $1.9 million in cap space, but San Diego's depth at running back is already faced with the idea of losing Mathews in free agency. The only scenario I could picture in which Brown leaves is if the Chargers go after a big-name running back in free agency or pursue a trade for Minnesota's Adrian Peterson (that idea has been tossed around in the media).
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