San Diego Chargers Daily Links: February 5, 2015

Chargers 2015 Salary Cap Outlook - Jason Fitzgerald
The Chargers are an older football team with just 6 players under contract beyond the 2016 season. If things are kept status quo next season they will have 10 starters that are no younger than 29, five of whom will be at least 34. This really is a franchise that is working its way through a transition and likely going to piece things together year by year until they can get more of a talent base in place or are forced to go heavy in free agency.

Radio Interview with Chris Watt - Darren Smith Show (audio)
Chargers C/G  Chris Watt on the tremendous impact of Nick Hardwick, what he learned from him & if he sees his own future at center or guard.

Top five pass-rushers in 2015 draft - Steve Muench (Insider)
Kansas City OLB Justin Houston, who led the league in sacks in 2014, is the best comparison I could come up with for Fowler, but whether he has the same kind of elite physical tools as Houston remains to be seen. Houston ran in the 4.6s after measuring 6-3 and 270 pounds with 10 7/8-inch hands and 34 1/2-inch arms coming out of Georgia. If Fowler, who is 6-2, 271 pounds, posts similar numbers, he could challenge for the top defensive end spot in this class.

One of a Kind- Nick Hardwick Says Goodbye - Marty Caswell
It wasn’t the adrenaline of game day, running onto the field and having his named called as fireworks exploded about on a prime time game or bus rides to and from a game that Hardwick said he’d miss the most about retiring from the NFL. It was something simple that really defines who Hardwick was.

Mailbag: What to Make of Chargers Free Agency & New LB Coach Mike Nolan - Mike Nolan
The Bolts have very talented, young linebackers capable of making a huge impact.  We’ll all miss Joe Barry, who heads to Washington as Defensive Coordinator, but replacing him with a guy of Nolan’s ilk is an exciting move.