The Los Angeles Chargers extended tenders to eight players on Thursday, including a pair of restricted free agents in WR Dontrelle Inman and ILB Korey Toomer. Inman received a second-round tender while Toomer was tagged with an original draft round compensation (fifth).
Each player can sign with a new club, but the Bolts are entitled to a "right of first refusal" to match the offer. If they opt not to, they'll receive the draft choice compensation based on the amount of the qualifying offer. Should Inman or Toomer sign the tender, they'll receive a salary predetermined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and its players.
Inman's role has grown by leaps and bounds since signing with the Chargers in 2014 out of the CFL. The 6-3, 205-pound wideout started all 16 games a year ago, setting career-highs in receptions (58), yards (810) and touchdowns (four). He's caught 105 passes for 1,454 yards and seven touchdowns in 37 career games.
The Chargers signed Toomer off the Raiders' practice squad early last season, and he immediately made an impact. He totaled 69 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and one sack in 13 games with eight starts. The 28-year old also ranked fourth on the team with four special teams tackles. Toomer played in 18 games with the Raiders, Texans and Cowboys prior to joining the Bolts.
Meanwhile, the Chargers tendered six Exclusive Rights free agents including S Adrian Phillips, WR Isaiah Burse, TE Sean McGrath, TE Asante Cleveland, RB Andre Williams and WR Geremy Davis. Exclusive Rights Free Agents are players with two years of NFL experience. Since they've been tendered, the six players can only sign with the Bolts.
One of the team's hardest workers, Phillips has been a popular presence inside the Chargers locker room since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He appeared in 14 games with six starts last season, notching 40 tackles, three passes defensed and one interception.
Burse split time a year ago between the active roster and practice squad, seeing the majority of his time at returner. He appeared in nine games with one start.
McGrath authored a memorable season after briefly retiring from the NFL in 2014. An old-school, throwback tight end, he appeared in all 16 games for the Bolts. Known primarily for his blocking, McGrath chipped in with a pair of catches for 25 yards. His top season came in 2013 when he caught 26 passes for 302 yards and two TDs for the Chiefs.
Cleveland plays the game with a similar approach to McGrath. The 6-5, 260-pound blocking tight end appeared in four games for the Chargers a year ago, and previously played for the 49ers and Patriots.
In his lone appearance of the year, Williams made a name for himself in the 2016 finale. The 6-0, 220-pound running back carried the ball 18 times for 87 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He initially joined the team off waivers at the beginning of the year from the New York Giants, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Davis is another former Giants draft pick who suited up for the Bolts in 2016. Claimed off their practice squad, the 6-2, 217-pound wideout appeared in three games. He caught two passes in New York the year before in 10 games for 21 yards. The University of Connecticut product was a force in college, rewriting the school's record books with 165 catches for 2,292 yards.
