Danny Woodhead’s Contract Will Heat Up Ryan Mathews’ Situation

First of all, YES!! “Lightning Bug” Danny Woodhead is coming back to the Bolts!

Every Chargers fan must have jumped with joy when hearing that Woodhead is coming back (Philip Rivers: Golly Gosh Whoo!).

“[He] is a proven playmaker for the team to bring off of the bench, a threat in the passing game and runs hard up the middle,” Ernie Padaon

As a RB that knows how to run between the tackles, catch passes very well out of the backfield, and find ways to convert cruicial 3rd downs, it was not surprising that he played a vital part of the team going to the playoffs and defeating the Cincinatti Bengals.

So yes, good news it is. But controversial debates rise up in these kind of moments.

Ryan Mathews’ contract is over next season and if he does what he did last year, it is pretty obvious that big money will be in demand.

The Bolts won’t have that kind of money. According to OverTheCap.com, the Bolts will have $26,367,503 in cap space but with 17 unrestricted free agents to deal with, nine of them being important players to the team. So to break it down for you, here is the list of all unrestricted free agents in 2015.

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Jeromey ClaryRyan MathewsNick HardwickEddie RoyalBrandon FlowersDwight FreeneyKing DunlapMarcus GilchristRichard MarshallJonas MoutonSeyi AjirotutuRich OhrnbergerVincent BrownShareece WrightCrezdon ButlerWillie SmithAndrew Gachkar

The first player that stands out is King Dunlap. Dunlap will be in big demand, assuming he doesn’t get injured too badly, heading into 2015. Teams are in need of quality pass-blocking LT’s like “The King.” And if you haven’t noticed, left tackles tend to get paid….. A LOT!

Next, think of players like Shareece Wright, Brandon Flowers, and Eddie Royal. Not to mention the free agents the Chargers will want to sign. Let all that sink in your head.

Conclusion

If Donald Brown shows that he can carry the load than there isn’t really a huge NEED for Mathews to come back. Brown and Woodhead should be more than enough to complement Philip Rivers and that nasty passing attack.

Then think of the players that could come in with Brown and Woodhead and create another three headed monster. Jacquizz Rodgers, Fred Jackson, Benjarvus Greene Ellis, Knowshon Moreno, and Darren McFadden are some of the names that may be available to snatch from free agency.

But if Brown doesn’t work out, than Tom Telesco will either need to pull off another contract miracle in Ryan Mathews or sign a cheaper option in free agency.

I hope this contract situation won’t bother Ryan in his thoughts. He should be focused just for this upcoming season, but he has to wonder what his future holds. Unlike players like Rivers, Woodhead, and Nick Hardwick, Mathews didn’t show full commitment to the city of San Diego.

Time will tell. Injuries (God Forbid) can always happen or maybe even players like Kerwynn Williams or Marion Grice will show another level of their skill.

What do you fans think? Leave your opinions in the comments.