The San Diego Chargers just missed the playoffs in 2015 and now head coach Mike McCoy has a number of significant players heading into free agency for Philip Rivers, including Ryan Mathews, Dwight Freeney, Eddie Royal, Brandon Flowers, King Dunlap, Seyi Ajirotutu and Ronnie Brown and that could lead to the team targeting Jeremy Maclin, Mark Ingram or CJ Spiller on the open market.
The Chargers made the playoffs in 2013 and Rivers had another strong season in 2014 for San Diego, but the team did not play well enough to make the playoffs. The team had a chance to make it in with a win in Week 17, but they lost to the Chiefs and went a disappointing 2-4 in the AFC West division. This offseason the team has some significant free agents to sign and they could target some names on the market depending on how much salary cap space they free up.
Freeney is the biggest name on the defensive side of the ball hitting the market, while Mathews and Royal are significant pieces that may need to be replaced. Royal was one of the more consistent targets for the Chargers, while Mathews could return after having an injury plagued 2014. Mathews has had injury issues throughout his career, but he looked like he was finally past it in 2013, playing in all 16 games and rushing for over 1250 yards. Brown is also a free agent and with the emergence of Branden Oliver, the team could look at drafting an RB over bringing one of them back.
The Chargers have a star in Keenan Allen, as he has been excellent since coming out of Cal, but with Royal leaving and Malcom Floyd getting older they need an upgrade for Rivers. Maclin could be a potential target if he doesn't ask for too large of a contract and the team could free up money by cutting veterans. Torrey Smith is also on the market and he could cost less than Maclin, who is coming off of a strong season with the Eagles.
The Chargers went 9-7 last season and ended up 10th in the league in passing yards per game. The team was ranked 30th in rushing yards per game and that is one area where the front office intends to focus on in free agency and the draft this offseason. The draft is projected to have one of the deeper classes of running backs in 2015 and names like Melvin Gordon, TJ Yeldon, Todd Gurley, Duke Johnson and Ameer Abdullah all could be potential targets for the Chargers.
Mark Ingram, CJ Spiller and Mathews are all on the market along with Darren McFadden and if the Chargers let Mathews go, any of those names could be solid replacements. Knowshon Moreno is also on the market and he is a skilled receiver out of the backfield, something McCoy likes to have with his RBs. McFadden could be a cheap option, while Spiller is looking like he will sign with the Jets after playing with the Bills.
