The Los Angeles Chargers will have to make a decision on 24 players whose contracts will expire. Here is a full list of the team's pending free agents.
Unrestricted Free Agents (14)
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.
DE Jerry Attaochu – The former second-round pick saw limited action in 2017, recording seven tackles in four games for the Bolts.
S Tre Boston – Boston inked a one-year deal with the team in May, and won the starting free safety gig in the preseason. He was a ballhawk in the secondary, totaling a team-high five interceptions. Boston started 15 of the 16 games he appeared in, also recording 79 tackles and eight passes defensed.
TE Jeff Cumberland – After first signing with the Chargers in the spring of 2016, the tight end finally made his anticipated debut with the team in November. He caught both passes thrown his way in a reserve role.
QB Kellen Clemens – A trusted confidant of Philip Rivers, Clemens served as a valuable resource for the entire offense in 2017. He did see mop up duty on a handful of occasions, completing six of his eight attempts for 36 yards.
TE Antonio Gates – The greatest tight end in NFL history set the all-time record for touchdowns at the position in 2017, adding to his surefire Hall of Fame resume. He also embraced a new role as the complementary tight end to Hunter Henry, ending the season with 30 catches for 316 yards and a trio of scores.
T Chris Hairston – The versatile swing tackle was lost early in the year after he landed on the Reserve/Non-Football Illness list midway through September.
K Nick Novak – Novak returned for his third tour of duty beginning in Week 5 of the regular season. He kicked the game-winner against the Oakland Raiders in Week 6, and finished the year converting 9-of-13 attempts before a back injury landed him on IR in early December.
T Michael Ola – Ola was brought in to add depth to the offensive line after a string of injuries midway through the season. He was also with the team early in 2015.
RB Branden Oliver – After a toe injury cost him half of the 2015 campaign and a torn Achilles in the preseason ended his 2016 season before it even began, Oliver was one of the feel good stories of the season. He appeared in eight games, carrying the rock 35 times for 83 yards while adding another 26 yards through the air on six receptions.
DT Tenny Palepoi – A tenacious lineman in the trenches who doesn't get the credit he deserves, the former undrafted free agent totaled 24 tackles in 15 games including his first career sack.
T Michael Schofield – Claimed off waivers from the Denver Broncos days before the season began, Schofield proved to be an important addition for the Bolts. The veteran ended up playing in 15 contests, including five starts at right tackle for an injured Joe Barksdale.
G Matt Slauson – A team captain on offense, the grizzled vet was lost for the season during Week 7's win over the Denver Broncos when he suffered a bicep injury.
LB Korey Toomer – The athletic linebacker appeared in 15 games with eight starts, totaling 48 tackles, three passes defensed and two forced fumbles. He memorably started the team's rout of the Buffalo Bills with his first career pick-six.
G Kenny Wiggins – A lunch-pail figure up front, Wiggins started all 16 games of the season for the first time in his career. He was one of only two linemen to start every game of the season, helping anchor an offensive line that gave up the fewest sacks in the NFL (18).
Restricted Free Agents (9)
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 Isaiah Burse – The wide receiver missed all of 2017 after being waived-injured during final roster reductions after getting hurt in the preseason. In 2016, Burse appeared in nine games for the Bolts, taking over as the team's featured kick and punt returner for the last half of the season.
TE Asante Cleveland – Cleveland also missed all of last season after being waived-injured after sustaining an injury early in training camp. The 6-5, 280-pound tight end appeared in four games for the Bolts in 2016.
WR Geremy Davis – The physical wide receiver split time in 2017 between the practice squad and active roster. The 6-3, 217-pound Davis tied for second on the Chargers this preseason with nine catches for 68 yards.
LB Nick Dzubnar – A demon on special teams, the Southern California native born in Mission Viejo led the entire league with 21 tackles in the kicking game. He also added 21 tackles on defense.
DE Chris McCain – It was a breakout season for the dynamic pass rusher, who provided to be an ideal complement to Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram off the edge. McCain broke out with career-highs across the board with 20 tackles, 5.0 sacks and one forced fumble.
TE Sean McGrath – A throwback tight end who enjoys doing the dirty work, the gritty McGrath proved to be an asset as the team's third TE. While most think of him as a block-first tight end, he did chip in four catches for 46 yards, including an acrobatic 23-yard snare against the New York Jets.
S Adrian Phillips – One of the hardest workers on the team, Phillips played a pivotal role in 2017 as he saw the most extensive action of his career. The Bolts made a switch starting in Week 5, using their third safety as an extra linebacker in their base packages in addition to his usual work in sub. As a result, he finished with career-highs in tackles (63), passes defensed (five) and picks (two) in 15 games.
RB Andre Williams – The rugged Williams saw most of his action on special teams before a wrist injury late in the season landed him on IR. He did carry the rock nine times for 25 yards during his limited opportunities on offense.
WR Tyrell Williams – While the return of Keenan Allen prevented Williams from matching last season's numbers, he still proved to be one of the most dynamic wideouts in the game. The third-year player led all NFL WRs in yards after catch average (8.0), while posting multiple touchdowns over 75 yards. He finished the season with 43 catches for 728 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 16.9 yards per catch.
Exclusive Rights Free Agents (1)
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.
DT Kaleb Eulls – After ending the 2016 season on the Bolts' active roster, Eulls missed the entire 2017 campaign after suffering an injury during the preseason.
