The Los Angeles Chargers have several restricted free agents. Which ones should the team retain?
2018 free agency: OL Matt Slauson & Kenny Wiggins
2018 free agency: TE Antonio Gates
2018 free agency: LB Korey Toomer
2018 free agency: FS Tre Boston
2018 free agency: RB Branden Oliver
2018 free agency: QB Kellen Clemens
2018 free agency: DE Jeremiah Attaochu
Restricted free agents are often overlooked.
According to OverTheCap.com, a restricted free agent is someone who has at least three years of accrued service in the NFL. When a player is a restricted free agent (RFA), the Chargers have the option to tender their guy and match any offer another team makes. If the Chargers fail to match said offer, they will be compensated depending on the tender placed on the player.
Restricted free agents can get a first-round tender, second-round tender, original-round tender (the round they were drafted) or right-of-first-refusal tender (no compensation). If tendered and no team makes an offer, the player will sign a non-guaranteed one-year deal with the team that tendered him. The team does have the option to offer a long-term extension.
Last year’s figures were as follows (Note: Amount rises each year):
First-round tender: one-year, $3.9 million
Second-round tender: one-year, $2.75 million
Original-round tender: one-year, $1.8 million
Last year, the Chargers had six RFAs: WRs Dontrelle Inman and Jeremy Butler, RB Branden Oliver, LB Korey Toomer, OG Kenny Wiggins and DT Tenny Palepoi. The Chargers placed tenders on Inman (second round) and Toomer (original round); no team competed for their services and they signed their respective one-year contracts. After not being tendered, Butler, Oliver, Wiggins and Palepoi became unrestricted free agents. The Chargers ended up re-signing Oliver, Wiggins and Palepoi to cheaper one-year deals.
Let’s take a look at the Chargers’ 2018 restricted free agents (via OverTheCap.com): WR Isaiah Burse, TE Asante Cleveland, WR Geremy Davis, LB Nick Dzubnar, DE Chris McCain, TE Sean McGrath, S Adrian Phillips, Andre Williams, Tyrell Williams
Who should they retain? Let’s find out.