How Chargers Can Free Up More Room Under the Cap

Nov 17, 2013; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins cornerback

(21) breaks up a hail mary pass to San Diego Chargers wide receiver

(86) during the last play of the game at Sun Life Stadium. The Dolphins won the game 20-16. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The San Diego Chargers do not have a ton of money to work with under the salary cap, but there are some ways to free up some room looking at the roster. The team is still looking to add 3 starters onto the roster. They need a nose tackle, a corner and a wide receiver to insert into the starting lineup. One or two of those starting jobs can go to rookies, but those positions are some of the toughest to transition into the league.

Looking at the salary cap now, the Chargers have a little less than $3 million to work with. That is the numbers from Over the Cap with the recent signing of Donald Brown entered in. They have that $3 million and they still need to keep some room under the cap to pay draft picks.

How in the world will the team make room under the roster to sign a few more players and sign the rookies?

Chargers fans all know about Jeromey Clary‘s bloated contract. Releasing him off of the roster would save the team over $4 million, but it would leave a hole at the guard position. Is Clary better than Johnnie Troutman? Might as well start Troutman and save that dough. Mike Harris will be returning from injury also and can compete at the guard position. It is also a position that we could focus on with the draft. Clary’s money is needed to fill some other holes on the roster. Clary is a decent starter at right guard, but not at that price tag.

Vincent Brown’s contract could be shed off of the roster. We could save another $1.4 million off of his release. We might be able to steal a 5th or 6th round draft pick with him. If the Jaguars were able to steal a 7th with Blaine Gabbert, we should be able to get something for Brown. Maybe. Either way, that $1.4 million could go toward something else.

Dropping Larry English could save the team another $1.5 million. English has done nothing for the team in his time with the Chargers and it is time for the team to move on.

If the Chargers don’t believe that Dwight Freeney will be able to return healthy, they might want to cut him off of the roster and he could save the team $3.125 million under the cap. The team would need to find a pass rusher somewhere though.

Jonas Mouton is still on the roster for some reason. He could save the team $766k under the cap.

If we want to get after Hakeem Nicks or Steve Smith or some corner, then we better open up some space under the cap.