Projecting San Diego Chargers' Most Heated Roster Battles This Offseason

NFL training camps are a breeding ground for heated competition, of which the San Diego Chargers should have plenty this offseason.

Aside from quarterback, free safety and possibly a few other positions, there aren't a ton of guaranteed starting jobs in San Diego. A lot of those spots will be filled through competition during the hot summer days when the team will prepare for preseason games and the highly anticipated start of the regular season. 

But until then, why not preview some of the battles expected to take place in San Diego training camp? Here are six to get you started.

1. Defensive Tackle: Sean Lissemore vs. Ryan Carrethers

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To say that defensive coordinator John Pagano will pick just one starter at defensive tackle is inaccurate, considering how often he changes personnel on game days, but the winner of this battle is sure to get more snaps than the other. Carrethers, who had his rookie season cut short by an elbow injury, will push Lissemore this offseason, and ESPN.com's Eric Williams believes Carrethers could develop into an impact player on the D-line.

This past year, Carrethers generated five unassisted tackles in a 23-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and another three in a 13-6 win over the Oakland Raiders. The former fifth-round pick had 12 tackles in a six-game span.

2. Strong Safety: Jahleel Addae vs. Jimmy Wilson

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With Marcus Gilchrist moving on to the New York Jets this offseason, Addae and Wilson will compete to fill the void alongside Eric Weddle in the defensive backfield. Wilson, who wrapped up a four-year stint with the Miami Dolphins, played every position in the secondary but is eager to earn a starting job at safety, as ESPN.com's Williams reports. The San Diego native registered 58 tackles and an interception for his club in 2014.

Addae, who signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent two years ago, has established himself as a fierce tackler, and while that style can be a bit reckless, it has also produced some big plays. He forced two fumbles last season, one of which was returned for a touchdown by teammate Darrell Stuckey.

3. Inside Linebacker: Donald Butler vs. Denzel Perryman

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San Diego's selection of Perryman in the second round should put Butler on notice for the foreseeable future, but it doesn't change the fact that both will be heavily featured next season. As Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego points out, Pagano installed a four-man rotation at inside linebacker last year, with Butler and Kavell Conner teaming up in base defense, Manti Te'o and Andrew Gachkar in the nickel, and Te'o by himself in dime.

Gachkar left the Chargers in free agency, opening up a spot in the rotation for Perryman. Given his forte as a thumper, the rookie could be looking at a considerable workload in Pagano's base defense, possibly replacing either Butler or Conner at some point.

4. Defensive End: Kendall Reyes vs. Ricardo Mathews

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Mathews is apparently a favorite of Pagano because of the energy he brings on the D-line, according to ESPN.com's Williams. The former seventh-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts flashed as an interior rusher in nickel and dime packages last year, collecting 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, but his role could extend beyond that if Reyes performs as poorly as he did last season.

According to Pro Football Focus, Reyes finished in the bottom 15 in run-stop percentage (3.8) among interior D-linemen for the third year in a row, and he totaled just one sack despite playing the second-most snaps on San Diego's D-line (607). Reyes showed promise earlier in his career when he tallied at least five sacks in each of his first two seasons, but 2014 was a year to forget for the former second-round pick.

5. Center: Chris Watt vs. Trevor Robinson

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The Chargers are comfortable entrusting Watt with the duty of replacing retired 11-year pro Nick Hardwick, per U-T San Diego's Gehlken, but Robinson may give him some competition, having gained a little playing time himself in 2014. During San Diego's run on injured centers last season, Robinson stepped up in Watt's place on three occasions, which included starting the final game of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs.

He managed to hold his own in those outings and could potentially force Watt to earn the starting job instead of receiving it by default.

6. Right Guard: Johnnie Troutman vs. Jeremiah Sirles

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Troutman shared time at right guard with Watt until the rookie was forced to play center due to injuries, which left Troutman to finish out the year on his own. With Watt taking over full-time at center, Troutman finds himself as the projected starter going into next season, but his play on the field isn't up to par with what's expected from a starting-caliber guard in the NFL. In fact, Pro Football Focus graded him well below his peers in 2014.

A candidate to challenge Troutman would almost certainly be the same player who replaced him upon injury late last year. Sirles played in two games with one start against the Chiefs, and he is a name to watch, according to U-T San Diego's Gehlken.

Stats provided by NFL.com.