SAN DIEGO -- For a second straight season, injuries affected the production of this group. And with Dwight Freeney and Jarret Johnson mulling retirement, the San Diego Chargers need to add a couple of young playmakers at outside linebacker.
Lock: Melvin Ingram, Manti Te’o, Donald Butler, Jeremiah Attaochu
Looking good: Tourek Williams, Kavell Conner
On the bubble: Cordarro Law, Alvin Scioneaux, Colton Underwood, Reggie Walker, Johnson
Free agents: Freeney, Andrew Gachkar
The good: When healthy, Ingram proved to be an impact player. The South Carolina product didn’t exactly fill up the stat sheet, finishing with 29 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles in nine games played. However, Ingram is a tone-setter for the defense, and needs to find a way to stay on the field for a full season. Te’o had his best season as a pro, finishing with 60 tackles, a sack and an interception. Conner was San Diego’s best run-stuffing linebacker, finishing with 70 tackles and a sack. A core player on special teams, Gachkar earned a situational role defensively, finishing with 49 tackles and a sack.
The bad: For a second straight season, not a single starter played a full, 16-game season. The team’s best pass-rusher, Ingram, was placed on IR designated to return, missing seven games with a hip issue. Starting inside linebacker Te’o missed six games with another foot injury. Starting inside linebacker Butler finished the season on IR, missing the last two games with a dislocated elbow. Johnson missed the Seattle game due to the birth of his daughter on game day. And rookie edge rusher Jeremiah Attaochu missed five games with a hamstring injury. After signing a lucrative contract during the offseason, Butler’s play was uneven. Defensive coordinator John Pagano limited Butler’s snaps to early downs in the second half of 2014, taking defensive play-calling duties from Butler and giving them to safety Eric Weddle. Although Butler was inconsistent, he finished third on the team in tackles with 73.
The money: Johnson is scheduled to make $5 million in total compensation in the final year of his contract. Similar to last season, Johnson could be asked to restructure if the Chargers want him to return. Butler will make $3.25 million in the second year of his deal. Freeney played all 16 games as a situational pass-rusher, finishing with 3.5 sacks and leading the Chargers in quarterback hits. He turns 35 years old this month and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March. Freeney has not decided if he will play in 2015. Walker is scheduled to make $1 million in 2015, and had his role reduced last year.
Draft priority: High. Whether it’s chasing high-dollar free agents like Justin Houston of the Kansas City Chiefs or Jason Worilds of the Pittsburgh Steelers, or selecting one of the talented prospects at edge rusher in this year’s draft, the Chargers have to find a premier edge rusher to add some juice to the pass rush. Ingram will continue to improve as an impact player, and Attaochu should develop in his second year. But overall, this group needs better production for San Diego’s defense to consistently play at an elite level.