Chargers Off-Season Mock 1.0

Is it too early to begin looking forward to the Chargers off-season moves?  I mean, seriously, we have not even played the Super Bowl yet.  But if we don’t give Tom Telesco our expert guidance, who will?

This is mock 1.0 and I hope to be updating it as we move through the off-season.  With this first one you will notice that we have a Plan A and a Plan B, as well as 3 empty draft slots.  This is where our Bolt Beat followers can get involved.  Throw your input into the comment section and who knows maybe your wisdom might become part of the Off-Season Mock 2.0.

Throw your input into the comment section and who knows maybe your wisdom might become part of the Off-Season Mock 2.0.

Cap SpaceThe Chargers have a little cap space to work with.  OverTheCap has the Chargers with a $119 million dollar roster for next season.  The cap is projected to be around $142 million next year.  That gives us a starting cap space of $23 million before we make any moves.

CutsIf the Chargers cut Donald Brown and Chad Rinehart that will free up about $5 million in cap space.  I think it is fair to say that these two guys underperformed last year.  That would get the Chargers to $28 million in cap space.

Contract RestructuresTelesco did some crafty work last year restructuring contracts to free up some space.  Is he up to the task again this year?  Phillip Rivers may be a candidate for this.  His contract is up at the end of the year.  Now might be the time to get a few more years added onto the contract in a way that might free up a little more cap space.  Another guy is Antonio Gates.  His contract also expires next year.  But with Gates we have to wonder if next year will be his last.

December 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers tackle King Dunlap (77) during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi

Free Agency – In HouseThese are the guys the Chargers need to re-sign:King Dunlap – probably going to cost us in the 7-8 million range.Brandon Flowers – I’m not sure what the market value is for Flowers.  Last year CBs were getting insane money in FA.  I would like to bring Flowers back.  I feel like the Chargers NEED to bring him back, but I feel like we can’t break the bank to do it.  How about a 5 million incentive laced contract?Eddie Royal – Can we get him back for 3 million a year?  Is that too much?  The dude deserves to come back he has played great the last couple of years.Ohrnberger – The Chargers should bring him back for about the same price as last year with a little increase.  He is a versatile Lineman.

Those are the top tier guys and they will probably eat up about 16-17 million of the cap space.  I will admit I don’t understand how signing bonus work with all of that, but I am guessing there is some smoke and mirrors tricks that management can do to make that impact less.

We might also want to bring back some depth guys.  Gachkar, Wright, Smith, Ricardo Matthews, Gilchist.  Those 5 guys will eat up some more cap space leaving us with about 8 million to spend.

Free Agency – Open Market8 million is not a lot in the open market.  I would like to see us target a Defensive Tackle and a Guard.  Nick Fairly would be my choice at DT, but my guess is he would eat up most of the 8 million.  But let’s figure TT can make some more money appear, then we also can get that guard.  Mike Iupati is probably out of our price range, but what about Orlando Franklin or Clint Boling?

The DraftI have two options here.  Option A is based on my preferences to get Danny Shelton with the first pick.  Option B is based on the fact that a quality OT might not be available in the second round.

Oct 18, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Everett Golson (5) throws the ball as he is pressured by Florida State Seminoles defensive tackle Eddie Goldman (90) during the first half at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Option A1st round – Danny Shelton (if he is not available and we go D-line first then Eddie Goldman)2nd round – Cameron Erving (there is a chance he will not be available at this point.  Right now it looks there are 6 top tier OT prospects. They may all be gone by the 17th pick of the second round.  So do we burn a fifth rounder to move up?)3rd round – David Cobb4th round – Ibraheim Campbell5th round – ?6th round – ?7th round – ?

Jan 1, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers running back David Cobb (27) stiff-arms Missouri Tigers safety Ian Simon (21) in the first quarter of the 2015 Citrus Bowl at Florida Citrus Bowl. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

Option B1st round – Andrus Peat2nd round – Xavier Cooper3rd round – David Cobb4th round – Ibraheim Campbell5th round – ?6th round – ?7th round – ?

Ok, Chargers Fans, give us your ideas what you would do with the 2015 off-season to get us back to the playoffs and competing for a Super Bowl.