The Los Angeles Chargers will have to make a decision on 26 players whose contracts will expire. Here is a full list of the team's pending free agents.
Unrestricted Free Agents (13)
Unrestricted Free Agents have completed four or more accrued seasons. An Unrestricted Free Agent is free to sign with any club with no draft choice compensation owed to his old club.
S Jahleel Addae – "The Hitman" continued to display his physical brand of ball in his fourth season. Unfortunately, a broken collarbone forced him to miss half the season. Addae started all eight games he played in, totaling 49 tackles, three passes defensed, three tackles for loss and his first career interception. He ended the year with a 90-yard pick-six, which was the seventh longest interception in team history.
*QB Kellen Clemens – A valuable resource for Philip Rivers from the sideline, the veteran passer saw limited action in 2016. He threw only one pass while mainly serving as the team's holder. *
*TE Jeff Cumberland – Expected to play an important role after signing a one-year contract in the offseason, the former Jet injured his Achilles in the second preseason game and was lost for the year.*
*RB Ronnie Hillman – The Chargers claimed Hillman off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings in late November. He saw limited action, carrying the ball 23 times for 81 yards while catching three passes for 50 yards in three games.*
OLB Melvin Ingram –A force off the edge, Ingram had another strong season for the Bolts. The outside linebacker finished with 66 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, 42 pressures, 23 QB hits, four forced fumbles and four passes defensed in his fifth season. (FRANCHISE TAG PLACED ON 2/27)
*NT Sean Lissemore – Lissemore's season was over before it began as shoulder injury landed the veteran nose tackle on the Reserve-Injured list during training camp.*
*CB Robert McClain – The Chargers claimed the veteran cornerback off waivers in early December after injuries decimated their secondary. McClain appeared in 11 games with six starts for the Panthers before joining the Bolts, and started in the Super Bowl for Carolina a year ago.*
*RB Dexter McCluster – Signed after Danny Woodhead was lost for the year in mid-September, McCluster appeared in six games before he fractured his wrist moving luggage in his apartment. McCluster caught seven passes for 36 yards while also returning punts and kickoffs.*
*NT Damion Square – Square became the Chargers starting nose tackle after the team lost Brandon Mebane midway through the season. He finished with 31 tackles, 2.5 sacks, six tackles for loss and 10 pressures in 12 games. *
*ILB Manti Te'o – Voted a team captain for the first time, Te'o's season ended prematurely after suffering an Achilles injury early in Week 3. Te'o totaled 21 tackles in just over eight quarters of action.*
OLB Tourek Williams –A broken foot suffered in the preseason opener cost Williams the entire 2015 season. The Chargers sixth-round pick in 2013 bounced back with a solid season, playing in all 16 games. He tied for the team lead with nine special teams tackles.
LS Mike Windt –A mainstay since joining the Bolts in 2011, Windt hasn't missed a game the last four seasons. He's appeared in 66 straight games including two post season contests since missing the final six games of the 2012 season with a wrist injury.
RB Danny Woodhead –Woodhead's season came to an abrupt end for the second time in three years. The popular running back injured his ACL in Week 2's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and was placed on the Reserve-Injured list days later. In 2015, Woodhead led the Chargers in receptions (80), receiving yards (755) and touchdown catches (six). His 80 catches were tied for the most in the NFL among all running backs.
Restricted Free Agents (6)
Restricted Free Agents are players with three accrued seasons. A Restricted Free Agent may receive a qualifying offer from their previous team, which is a salary tender predetermined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and its players. If the Restricted Free Agent signs an offer sheet with a new club, his old club can match the offer and retain him because the qualifying offer entitles it to a "right of first refusal" on any offer sheet the player signs. If the old club does not match the offer, it may receive draft choice compensation depending on the amount of its qualifying offer.
WR Jeremy Butler –Butler was claimed off waivers from the New York Jets on Oct. 31, and he caught two passes in four games while battling injuries. The 6-2, 213-pound wideout caught 31 passes for 363 yards in eight games for the Baltimore Ravens in 2015.
WR Dontrelle Inman – It was a career year for the wide receiver, who earned high praise from Philip Rivers this year for his dependability. In his third year since signing out of the CFL, Inman caught 58 passes for 810 yards and four touchdowns.
RB Branden Oliver –The running back missed all of the 2016 campaign after suffering an Achilles injury during the preseason. Oliver burst onto the scene in 2014 as the ultimate underdog. He was undrafted out of Buffalo, and led the team in rushing with 582 yards on 160 carries in his rookie campaign.
DT Tenny Palepoi – Another undrafted free agent who made the Bolts roster in 2014, Palepoi returned from a foot injury suffered during 2015's training camp to appear in games in 2016. He totaled 23 tackles and two tackles for loss in 13 games.
ILB Korey Toomer –Signed by the Chargers off the Raiders' practice squad in late September, the inside linebacker proved to be a valuable playmaker after injuries ravaged the position. Toomer ranked second on the team with three forced fumbles, also he finished the year with 69 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four passes defensed and one sack.
G Kenny Wiggins –The 28-year old has carved out a role as a valuable reserve linemen the past two seasons. His versatility has been a boon to the Bolts as he is capable of playing anywhere on the offensive line.
Exclusive Rights Free Agents (7)
Exclusive Rights Free Agents are players with two years of NFL experience. If their team tenders them with a qualifying offer, the Exclusive Rights Free Agent is not eligible to sign with any other team.
WR Isaiah Burse –The Fresno State product bounced back and forth between the active roster and practice squad, appearing in nine games with one start. He primarily served as the Chargers top returner when active.
TE Asante Cleveland –A 6-5, 260-pound blocking tight end who has also suited up for the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots, Cleveland played in four games for the Bolts in 2016.
WR Geremy Davis –The Chargers signed Davis to the active roster off of the Giants' practice squad in early November, but he was only active in three games. The former UConn product was originally New York's sixth-round draft pick in 2015, catching two passes in 10 games that year.
WR Javontee Herndon – A knee injury suffered in early in training camp cost Hendon his entire 2016 season. The wideout spent all of 2014 on the team's practice squad before being promoted to the active roster midway through the 2015 season. He caught 24 passes that year for 195 yards while also serving as the Bolts' primary returner.
TE Sean McGrath –The old-school, throwback tight end appeared in all 16 games last season, cementing his return to the NFL after briefly retiring. McGrath previously broke out with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014 before walking away from the game.
S Adrian Phillips –One of the team's hardest workers, Phillips was on the 53-man roster the entire season after spending his first two years bouncing back and forth between the active roster and the practice squad. The safety appeared in 14 games with six starts, recording 40 tackles, three passes defensed and one interception.
RB Andre Williams – Williams made his presence felt after being promoted off the practice squad for the season finale. A former fourth-round draft pick of the New York Giants, the 6-0, 220-pound bruiser ran for 87 yards on 18 carries, averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
