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A Post-Free Agency, Pre-Draft San Diego Chargers Depth Chart

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Okay, fine, free agency technically isn't over yet. The San Diego Chargers could be signing someone right now, for all we know. However, it seems like they're mostly done signing guys and have turned their focus to the draft.

Heading into the draft, I like to look at where guys could fit without risk of getting cut at the end of training camp. This depth chart should be a helpful way to find that out.


Quarterback
Philip Rivers
Charlie Whitehurst

Room for a rookie?: Nope. There's probably no room here for at least the next two years, barring any serious injuries. It sure is nice to have Charlie Dreamboat back, isn't it?


Running Back
Ryan Mathews
Curtis Brinkley
Le'Ron McClain
Jacob Hester

Room for a rookie?: Yes, but one isn't entirely necessary. If the Chargers believe that McClain is as good as Mike Tolbert was as a running back, then the group they have now would essentially be the same as it was in 2012 even without a rookie.


Fullback
Le'Ron McClain
Jacob Hester

Room for a rookie?: No.

Wide Receiver
Robert Meachem
Malcom Floyd
Vincent Brown
Eddie Royal
Richard Goodman
Roscoe Parrish
Michael Spurlock

Room for a rookie? Yes. The Chargers will probably carry 5 WRs and a special teams player. Goodman, Parrish and Spurlock are not sure things to make the team, and Malcom Floyd is in the last year of his contract.


Tight End
Antonio Gates
Randy McMichael
Dante Rosario
Kory Sperry
Brad Taylor

Room for a rookie?: Yes, kind of. The only guy signed past this season is Gates, and he's getting older. Big TEs with good hands are valued commodities these days, so it would be hard for the Chargers to pass one up in the draft.


Offensive Tackle
Jared Gaither
Jeromey Clary
Mario Henderson
Stephen Schilling

Room for rookie?: Not unless they were moving Clary, and I don't see them doing that this late and after they've already moved Dombrowski. They could maybe use a mid-to-late pick to challenge Schilling as a project OT.


Offensive Guard
Tyronne Green
Louis Vasquez
Brandyn Dombrowski
Stephen Schilling

Room for rookie?: Probably. Vasquez is coming up on the end of his deal and I can't imagine the team still being real high on Dombro. Team could still sign back Scott Mruczkowski.


Center
Nick Hardwick
Colin Baxter

Room for rookie?: No.


Defensive End
Corey Liuget
Luis Castillo
Vaughn Martin
Jacques Cesaire
Damik Scafe

Room for rookie?: Yes, but not a high draft pick. If the team isn't happy with this group, they could probably sign back Tommie Harris (who played very well last year).


Defensive Tackle
Antonio Garay
Cam Thomas
Charlie Bryant

Room for rookie?: Probably not.


Inside Linebacker
Takeo Spikes
Donald Butler
Jonas Mouton
Demorrio Williams
Bront Bird
Jarret Johnson
Andrew Gachkar

Room for rookie?: Not a high draft pick, but yes. Williams and Bird aren't sure things to make the team by any means.


Outside Linebacker
Shaun Phillips
Jarret Johnson
Antwan Barnes
Larry English
Travis LaBoy
Darryl Gamble

Room for rookie?: Only if the team doesn't believe that English and LaBoy are suitable backups. So, yes.


Cornerback
Quentin Jammer
Antoine Cason
Marcus Gilchrist
Shareece Wright

Room for rookie?: Yes.


Free Safety
Eric Weddle
Darrell Stuckey
Nick Polk

Room for rookie?: Yes.


Strong Safety
Atari Bigby
Darrell Stuckey

Room for rookie?: Yes. I'm still not entirely sold on either of these guys as the starter.


Kicker
Nate Kaeding
Nick Novak

Room for rookie?: No. #TeamKaeding


Punter
Mike Scifres

Room for rookie?: No.


Long Snapper
Mike Windt

Room for rookie?: I doubt it.


Punt Returner
Roscoe Parrish
Eddie Royal
Antoine Cason
Marcus Gilchrist

(I totally made that list up on my own, in case you're wondering.)

Room for rookie?: Yes, if only because Parrish isn't a sure thing to make the team and the other guys have other responsibilities.


Kick Returner
Eddie Royal
Richard Goodman
Marcus Gilchrist
Michael Spurlock
Roscoe Parrish
Jacob Hester

Room for rookie?: No.



There you have it. Defensive secondary, some linebackers, offensive linemen and maybe a running back. That's the positions you should be looking for the Chargers to draft in 2012.