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Chargers 2018 free agency: Which restricted free agents should Bolts keep?

By Matt Pagels

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 24: Tyrell Williams #16 of the Los Angeles Chargers carries the ball past Buster Skrine #41 of the New York Jets during the first half in an NFL game at MetLife Stadium on December 24, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 24: Tyrell Williams #16 of the Los Angeles Chargers carries the ball past Buster Skrine #41 of the New York Jets during the first half in an NFL game at MetLife Stadium on December 24, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images) /
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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.

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