San Diego Chargers Offseason Summary and Grades

By Scott Carasik

Key Losses

Traded LB Tim Dobbins CB Antonio Cromartie

Released RB LaDainian Tomlinson RB Michael Bennett WR Demetrius Byrd NT Jamal Williams

RB Michael Bennett WR Kassim Osgood TE Brandon Manumaleuna C Eric Ghiaciuc OLB Marques Harris contracts expired

Trades

The Chargers traded QB Charlie Whitehurst and 2010 2nd round pick (# overall - used on ) to the Seahawks for 2010 2nd round pick (# overall - traded to Miami) and 2011 3rd round pick

The Chargers traded CB Antonio Cromartie to the Jets for 2011 conditional 3rd round pick

The Chargers traded LB Tim Dobbins, 2010 1st round pick (#28 overall - used on DE Jared Odrick), 2010 2nd round pick (#40 overall - used on OLB Koa Misi) and 2010 4th round pick (#126 overall - traded to Cowboys) to the Dolphins for 2010 1st round pick (#12 overall - used on RB Ryan Mathews), 2010 4th round pick (#110 overall - S Darrell Stuckey), and 2010 6th round pick (#173 overall - traded to 49ers)

The Chargers traded 2010 3rd round pick (#79 overall - LB Donald Butler) to the 49ers for 2010 3rd round pick (#91 overall - LB Navorro Bowman), 2010 6th round pick (#173 overall - RB Anthony Dixon) and 2011 4th round pick

The Chargers traded 2010 5th round pick (#159 overall - WR Riley Cooper) and 2011 5th round pick to the Eagles for 2010 5th rounc pick (#146 overall - NT Cam Thomas)

Free Agency

Re-signed RB Darren Sproles FB Mike Tolbert TE Kris Wilson OT Jeromey Clary DE Antonio Garay OLB Antwan Applewhite ILB Tim Dobbins

Signed RB Marcus Mason CB Donald Strickland CB Nathan Vasher

Signed as undrafted free agents RB Shawnbrey McNeal FB Cory Jackson WR Seyi Ajirotutu WR Richard Goodman WR Jordyn Jackson WR Ernest Smith WR Marcel Thompson WR Bryan Walters WR Jeremy Williams TE Richard Brockel TE Dajleon Farr T Brady Bond T Justin Jeffries T Ryan Otterson T Stephan Richmond G Jeff Hansen LB Brandon Lang LB Kion Wilson CB Traye Simmons P Cort Johnson

Draft Grade = B

12 San Diego Chargers - RB Ryan Mathews - 5'11-5/8" 218 - Fresno State

Mathews wasn't that great of a prospect. trading up for him with guys like Best and Dwyer out there was a bad move. Grade: D-

79 San Diego Chargers - ILB Donald Butler - 6'1-1/8" 245 - Washington

Traded up for a great player here in Butler. I don't have him as high, but love the fit here for the defense. Grade: A+

110 San Diego Chargers - S Darrell Stuckey - 5'11-1/2" 205 - Kansas

They got a guy wh ocan be their FS for years in the 4th. Love this pick. Grade: A

146 San Diego Chargers - NT Cam Thomas - 6'4" 330 - North Carolina

I love this pick for San Diego. It's always smart to upgrade the DT rotation and run defense. Grade: A+

168 San Diego Chargers - QB Jonathan Crompton - 6'3-1/8" 222 - Tennessee

I don't see what is so great about Crompton. But it fills a solid need at backup QB for the Chargers. Grade: B

235 San Diego Chargers - TE Dedrick Epps - 6'3-1/8" 250 - Miami

I love the idea of drafting a solid TE replacement for Gates. Grade: A

Overall Grade based on talent acquired and team needs met: C

I think they took a step back in the offseason. They didn't have the best draft and their free agency and trades left a lot to be desired. They will likely be de-throned as the champion in the AFC West this year unless they perform well past my expectations.

Projected Depth Chart heading into training camp:

QB - Phillip Rivers/Billy Volek/Jonathan Crompton

RB - Ryan Mathews/Darren Sproles/Curtis Brinkley/Marcus Mason/Shawnbrey McNeal

3DRB - Darren Sproles/Marcus Mason/Shawnbrey McNeal

FB - Mike Tolbert/Jacob Hester/Billy Latsko/Cory Jackson

WR Featured - Vincent Jackson/Seyi Ajirotutu/Richard Goodman/Jordyn Jackson

WR Possession - Malcolm Floyd/Gary Banks/Jeremy Williams/Marcel Thompson

WR Slot - Legadu Naanee/Buster Davis/Ernest Smith/Bryan Walters

TE - Antonio Gates/Dedrick Epps/Kris Wilson/Richard Brockel/Dajleon Farr

LT - Marcus McNeill/Corey Clark/Nick Richmond

LG - Kris Dielman/Tyronne Green/Bond Brady

C - Nick Hardwick/Ryan McDonald/Jeff Hansen

RG - Scott Mruczkowski/Louis Vasquez/Ryan Otterson

RT - Jeromy Clark/Brandyn Dombrowski/Justin Jeffries

LDE - Luis Castillo/Travis Johnson/Ogemdi Nwagbuo/Alfonso Boone

NT - Cam Thomas/Ian Scott/Ogemdi Nwagbuo/Antonio Garay

RDE - Jacques Cesaire/Vaughn Martin/Ryon Bingham/Derrick Jones

WOLB - Shaun Phillips/Larry English/Antwan Applewhite/Brandon Lang

WILB - Kevin Burnett/Donald Butler/Kion Wilson

SILB - Stephen Cooper/Brandon Siler/Darry Beckwith

SOLB - Shawn Merriman/Jyles Tucker/James Holt

LCB - Quentin Jammer/Donald Strickland/Dante Hughes

RCB - Antonie Cason/Nathan Vasher/Brandon Hughes/Traye Simmons

FS - Eric Weddle/Steve Gregory/Paul Oliver

SS - Kevin Ellison/Darrell Stuckey/C.J. Spillman

K - Nate Kaeding/Nick Novak

P - Mike Scifres/Cort Johnson

LS - David Binn

KR - Darren Sproles

PR - Darren Sproles

Starter is Bolded

Free Agent/Trade Acquisitions are Italicised

Draft picks are Underlined