4 players the Chargers gave up on way too soon

2. Rodney Harrison

The Chargers do not really have a great track record with safeties, do they? Thankfully, the team re-signed Derwin James to a contract extension and didn't give up on him too soon as it really does seem to be a trend. Before Phillips, the Chargers gave up on Rodney Harrison earlier than they should have.

Harrison still had a great, long career with the Chargers. Drafted in the fifth round of the 1994 NFL Draft, Harrison had a far bigger impact on the Bolts than fans ever could have expected at the time. He ended up playing nine seasons in San Diego, making the Pro Bowl twice and being named a First Team All-Pro once.

Despite being a fan favorite, the Chargers decided to cut Harrison after the 2002 season. He was coming off of a down season, missed some games due to injury in previous years and it looked like the Chargers were trying to get ahead of the curve.

So in classic Chargers fashion, Harrison went to the New England Patriots and had the best season of his career in 2003. Harrison was an All-Pro and finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He followed that up with a Second Team All-Pro nod the next season.

Harrison went on to play six seasons in New England and was a very important veteran presence on the defensive side of the ball, even in the final stages of his career. In those six years, Harrison took home two Super Bowl rings.