Predicting the Last 5 In, Last 5 Out for San Diego Chargers' Final 53-Man Roster
The San Diego Chargers open training camp in late July with the hope of finding the best 53 players for the start of the 2015 season.
A big part of that process will be determining which players on the roster bubble make it and which don't. We call these the last five in and last five out. The last five in are presumably individuals who just made the cut, while the last five out just barely missed out.
The following is a prediction of who the Chargers' last five in, last five out may be for next season.
In: Donald Brown
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The Chargers kept four running backs last season, but by Week 5 they were down to just one due to injuries suffered by Ryan Mathews, Danny Woodhead and Brown. Assuming they keep four again next season as a precaution, Brown will be competing with two undrafted rookies—Jahwan Edwards and Dreamius Smith—for the fourth spot behind Melvin Gordon, Woodhead and Branden Oliver.
Given his six years of experience and versatility, Brown has a leg up on his rookie counterparts, but he'll need to prove it in training camp, as his first year with the Bolts left a lot to be desired.
In: Dontrelle Inman
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Inman was fortunate enough to make the roster last season as a fifth receiver behind Keenan Allen, Malcom Floyd, Eddie Royal and Seyi Ajirotutu. The latter two signed on with other teams in free agency but were replaced with Stevie Johnson and Jacoby Jones, placing Inman once again in the middle of tough position battle at receiver.
But as he showed in the final two games of 2014, Inman has loads of potential worth keeping around. His name will be one that comes up when talking replacements for Malcom Floyd in the near future.
In: Kyle Emanuel
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Outside linebacker is among the least experienced positions on the Chargers' roster following the offseason departures of veterans Dwight Freeney (free agent) and Jarret Johnson (retired). That said, Emanuel will fit right in given his rookie status.
The fifth-round pick out North Dakota State is taking a pretty sizable leap, going from a small-school prospect to the NFL, along with transitioning from a 4-3 defensive end to a 3-4 outside linebacker. If he can prove he's capable of making the switch, maybe stand out on special teams, Emanuel will have a spot on the final 53.
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In: Darius Philon
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Currently the youngest player on the Chargers' roster, Darius Philon has a lot of growing to do both mentally and in the weight room, but Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune still views the Arkansas product as the Bolts' most intriguing draft prospect from the 2015 class.
Philon doesn't sport the build of a traditional 5-technique, but as Krasovic explains, "He's a better fit for the 'movement 3-4', which is like a 4-3 design."
The movement 3-4 would make the greatest use of Philon's exceptional pass-rushing ability, allowing him to penetrate gaps and get after the quarterback. Based on how desperately the Chargers need pass-rushing help, Philon could be among those to survive roster cuts during camp. If not, he most certainly would be a player they consider for the practice squad.
In: Chris Davis
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Beyond his contributions on special teams, Chris Davis wasn't heavily featured as a rookie, but as GM Telesco noted during his combine presser in February, courtesy of Chargers.com, he believes the former Auburn standout could play a number of different roles in year two. Kick returner is among them but so is defense.
Davis is one of 10 corners vying for a roster spot. His versatility as a returner will give him a slight edge over some of the other competitors, but he needs to elevate his game as a defender.
Out: Chris Hairston
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Hairston and Joe Barksdale will be competing for the job of swing tackle this summer, assuming the latter doesn't already win a starting job by beating out D.J. Fluker at right tackle. Hairston played left and right tackle during his four-year stint with the Buffalo Bills, and as an added bonus, he and Chargers' offensive line coach Joe D'Alessandris spent three seasons together in Buffalo.
Fluker has been fairly healthy at right tackle, missing just one game since 2013, whereas left tackle King Dunlap has missed five. Hairston isn't a bad backup, but Barksdale might be a better option for the Chargers.
Out: Austin Pettis
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Keeping more than five receivers is a stretch for next season, even if Austin Pettis has been a touchdown magnet the past three seasons with St. Louis. He caught nine touchdowns from 2012-2014 despite starting only eight of the 35 games he played in.
At 6'3" and 203 pounds, Pettis presents the Chargers with another big target, but with at least five options ahead of him on the depth chart, it's going to be a difficult climb for the 27-year-old.
Out: Greg Ducre
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Greg Ducre bounced back and forth with the Chargers and Washington Redskins last season before coming back to the Bolts in December. He played five games for Washington and recorded his first career interception against the San Francisco 49ers in relief of injured starter Tracy Porter.
The fact that the Chargers brought Ducre back from the Redskins tells you a little about how they must feel about him, but this roster is chock-full of young, talented corners. He may be someone the team keeps on hand via the practice squad in case of injuries.
Out: Richard Crawford
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Ducre and Richard Crawford were among the players to impress during offseason workouts, according to Ricky Henne of Chargers.com. Ironically, both were members of the Redskins last season before joining the Bolts in October.
A seventh-round pick in 2012, Crawford played 10 games his rookie year but unfortunately missed the next season with a torn ACL. The 24-year-old did not play in 2014 but hopes to get back on track this season as a member of the Chargers. Cracking the 53-man roster will be extremely difficult, however, with so much invested at corner.
Out: Javontee Herndon
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Javontee Herndon was a player on the rise during the summer of his rookie year but fell just short of making the active roster in 2014. Instead, he was signed to the practice squad, where he remained all season. Herndon will get another crack at the final 53 during training camp, and the Chargers seem to like his upside, per Eric Williams of ESPN.com.
The competition among receivers in camp will be fierce, given all the talent on San Diego's roster, but there aren't nearly enough slots for every one of them.
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