Why would the Chargers rescind DE Chris McCain’s RFA tender?

In a move that doesn’t make too much sense, the Los Angeles Chargers rescinded Chris McCain’s RFA tender.

Chargers defensive end Chris McCain burst onto the scene in 2017.

McCain, a 2014 undrafted free agent who bounced from team to team before finding a home in Los Angeles in 2016, did what former Charger Jerry Attaochu was drafted to do. After standing out in the 2017 preseason, McCain went on to play in a career-high 15 games and finished with 20 combined tackles and five sacks, third-most on the team. He also forced two fumbles. McCain put up those numbers playing the fewest amount of defensive snaps among the team’s defensive linemen (minimum five games played).

McCain, who is only 26 years old, was a restricted free agent. The Chargers slapped a right-of-first-refusal tender on him. The tender was worth $1.9 million, and the Bolts had the right to match any offer that was made by another team.

But according to Pro Football Talk, the Chargers have now rescinded McCain’s tender. McCain will be free to sign with any team.

Why? It makes no sense. McCain had a good year with the Chargers. He’s a young, situational pass rusher who provided valuable depth at the LEO position in Gus Bradley’s scheme. Melvin Ingram and Whitney Richardson are the only others players on the roster who play that position. And I’ve heard nothing but good things off the field. It was a cheap, one-year deal, too.

There’s obviously something we don’t know about. Maybe it was a mistake. But if this report is true, then the Chargers are going to have to add edge rusher to their list of needs as they head into the draft. They need more depth behind Ingram.

Chargers WR Keenan Allen is also confused by the news.

I just don’t understand sometimes! But we sign people like… nvm. pic.twitter.com/2UoUybvFld

— Keenan Allen (@Keenan13Allen) April 16, 2018