3 Veterans the San Diego Chargers Must Part with Before 2015 Season

Bringing in new players will always result in releasing old ones. It's just business in the NFL.

The San Diego Chargers know this, and that's why they should take a look at the roster now for any possible cuts. Individuals who performed poorly or simply weren't used enough are targets for removal before the 2015 season.

One example is linebacker Reggie Walker, who was let go by the Chargers last week. Walker missed five games last season and played sparingly on defense, settling for a role on special teams. The veteran's release freed up $1 million in cap space, along with a roster spot.

Who else could the Chargers part ways with? Read on to find out.

TE John Phillips

USA TODAY Sports

San Diego nearly added another tight end to the roster with reports of a strong push for Virgil Green, who opted to re-sign with the Broncos. If Green had in fact become a Charger, Phillips might have gotten his walking papers. But for now, he remains the team's third option heading into 2015.

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Chargers made strong push to get more physical on offense. Were in mix for DEN TE Virgil Green, who re-signed. Added G Orlando Franklin.

— Michael Gehlken (@UTgehlken) March 10, 2015"

Phillips has had to compete for playing time since he got to San Diego in 2013, but his usage decreased with the transition from Ken Whisenhunt to Frank Reich as offensive coordinator. The former Dallas Cowboy saw more work in Whisenhunt's scheme as an added blocker in the run game while Reich's play-calling called less for two-tight end sets last season. The emergence of Ladarius Green has also limited Phillips' snap counts on offense.

Unless next year's plan involves more running between the tackles with the use of a second tight end, the Chargers should explore cutting Phillips for $1.4 million in added cap space.

G Johnnie Troutman

Alan Diaz/Associated Press

The Chargers stayed patient with Troutman for the last three years, allowing him every opportunity to prove himself a capable starter, but the former fifth-round pick shows no signs of improving. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the lowest-graded right guard in football last season.

The front office has already gotten to work on bolstering the offensive line with the re-signing of left tackle King Dunlap and the recent acquisition of ex-Denver Broncos guard Orlando Franklin. According to Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego, the arrival of Franklin on a five-year, $36 million deal triggered the release of Chad Rinehart, who started all 16 games at left guard for San Diego in 2014.

Rinehart, who graded just as poorly as Troutman last season, still had one year remaining on his contract. If the Chargers can find someone better to play right guard for them in 2015, the same fate could be awaiting Troutman, who would free up $1.5 million if released.

RB Donald Brown

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

In all fairness, Brown's lackluster first season with the Bolts wasn't entirely his fault. A shoddy offensive line paired with injuries to Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead put him in the difficult position to carry the rushing load by Week 3, which he clearly wasn't ready for. After sitting out three games with a concussion, Brown returned in a limited role as undrafted rookie Branden Oliver assumed the role of lead back.

General manager Tom Telesco confirmed that Brown, who is under contract through 2016, would be back next season and expressed full confidence in the former first-round pick, according to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune:

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We thought he mixed in well with our guys, and I have a lot of confidence in Donald, I really do. Whether we didn't see enough out of him this year or not, I've had a lot of confidence in him. Even in the passing game as far as taking a checkdown -- you know, 5- or 6-yard pass and turn it into 15 or 20 yards, he’s got some big-play ability. Like I said, we probably didn't see enough of that this year, but it’s there, and I feel good about it, and I'm glad he’s here.

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With the state of the running back position in limbo at the moment, the case for keeping Brown is a strong one. Mathews hit the open market on Tuesday, with no indication he'll back in a Chargers uniform next season. But if the team seeks out a veteran back in free agency or perhaps a first-round talent in the draft, Brown's stint in San Diego could be a short one. Releasing the 27-year-old would save the Chargers $1.9 million in cap space.

Cap-space info provided by Spotrac.com.