Nov 23, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers defensive tackle Ricardo Mathews (90) next to cornerback Brandon Flowers (26) during the fourth quarter against the St. Louis Rams at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
With the Super Bowl just days away, most NFL teams are in the full-swing of their off-season evaluations and dealings. For the 9-7 San Diego Chargers, this 2015 off-season could not be any more critical.
After going 8-4, the Bolts lost three of their last four games and ended up missing the playoffs on the final game of the season. The team’s performance, not reflected by their record, was adequate and an improvement in some areas (secondary play, receiver play). However, at the same time the Chargers could not protect their quarterback nor sack the opposing QB and suffered greatly.
To make matters worse, the Bolts will be losing 16 players: WR Seyi Ajirotutu, RB Ronnie Brown, OT King Dunlap, CB Brandon Flowers, OLB Dwight Freeney, ILB Andrew Gachkar, SS Marcus Gilchrist, C Nick Hardwick, OG Doug Legursky, DE Ricardo Mathews, RB Ryan Mathews, P Mat McBriar, C/OG Rich Ohrnberger, WR Eddie Royal, OT Willie Smith and CB Shareece Wright.
That is a lot of players, folks.
With that considered, the Chargers are going to need to make some tough decisions about whether or not to keep these unrestricted free agents. When free agency officially starts at 4:00 PM ET on March 10, 2015, the Bolts are going to have to evaluate their current roster along with the rosters of those teams around the league.
Free Agency (despite what ESPN may have you think) is much more important than the NFL Draft. Free Agency is virtually unlimited in the fact that teams can pick up an unlimited amount of players (as long as it is within salary cap/monetary/position concerns), where as the NFL Draft is confined to a limited number of selections.
In this year’s free agency, big names such as DeMarco Murray, Demaryius Thomas, Ndamukong Suh, Randall Cobb, Justin Houston and Jason Pierre-Paul are on the board for the pickings. These names will most likely go quickly, so the Chargers are going to have to ask fast if they are going to even think about signing one of these guys.
While those names listed above may be the best on the board, the Chargers should focus on players that they cannot find on their roster, nor in the NFL draft. I will be giving you the ten top players that the Chargers should be interested in come March ranging from SS Antrel Rolle to even WR Wes Welker.
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