INDIANAPOLIS — His first three draft picks as the San Diego Chargers’ general manager started as rookies for a playoff team, the other three appear to be future contributors and he targeted free agents such as running back Danny Woodhead, but Tom Telesco knows it’s back to the drawing board each spring when constructing his 53-man roster.
“We have a number of decisions to make,” Telesco said Thursday at the Scouting Combine.
Heading the free agent list is inside linebacker Donald Butler, the only full-time starter set to cash in. The bigger decisions will likely come after evaluating the contracts of veterans with bloated salary cap figures — including wide receiver Eddie Royal’s $6 million figure for 2014.
The Chargers stand to benefit from the report that the league is projected to raise the cap about five percent to around $130 million, but Telesco admitted the team doesn’t have the greatest cap flexibility this offseason.
Among the reasons the Chargers climbed off the mat last year and snapped their three-season streak of missing the playoffs was Telesco’s work during the draft.
He snagged rugged right tackle D.J. Fluker in the first round. The behemoth from Alabama arrived at the team’s offseason program and was never overwhelmed by being thrown into the lineup, according to Telesco.
Improving inside linebacker Manti Te’o became a starter after getting picked in the second round. While he didn’t make many game-changing plays, Te’o acquitted himself well, especially considering the dead-girlfriend hoax that dominated headlines leading up to last year’s draft.
“He’s handled himself well,” said Telesco. “He had some great support along the way. Manti is very smart and very mature.”
And few rookies had better seasons than wide receiver Keenan Allen, a steal who fell to the third round in part due to concerns about a knee injury that never posed a problem during his rookie season. Allen fought through the proverbial rookie wall to finish with 71 catches for 1,046 yards and eight touchdowns.
“We’re happy with the group,” Telesco said about his first rookie class.
Among the blemishes to be addressed this offseason is a shaky pass defense. And there are concerns along the offensive line. The Chargers are also bent on improving their pass rush.
A complementary receiver to pair with Allen, and a true nose tackle to anchor the team’s 3-4 alignment are also on the wish list.
The Chargers currently have seven picks in May’s draft, including the 25th overall selection.
— Center Nick Hardwick has yet to inform the Chargers on his plans for next season. Hardwick, a 10-year pro, contemplated retirement after last year, but decided to play and he had a stellar season. But he wouldn’t commit for next season in the days after the Chargers were eliminated from the playoffs, and the Chargers are awaiting word on his availability for next year.
“I have not (talked to him yet),” Telesco said. “We expect him to play until told otherwise. He’s a rock on the interior, and a guy we’d love to have back.”
–Outside linebacker Dwight Freeney continues to recover from the torn quadriceps that ended his 2014 season in September, and is under contract with the Chargers for 2014.
“He’s still rehabbing. We’ll go from there,” Telesco said at the combine. “It’s still only February. It’s still early.”
–Wide receiver Danario Alexander was considered a long shot to return next season after missing last season with another knee injury. His odds grew longer with reports that he has suffered an infection after undergoing knee surgery and he may not be available for the 2014 campaign.
–Wide receiver Vincent Brown didn’t emerge as some had expected following the season ending injuries to Malcom Floyd and Alexander last season, but Telesco was pleased with Brown’s 41 catches for 472 yards and a touchdown in 2013 considering he had missed the entire previous season.
“It was almost like a rookie year,” Telesco said of Brown’s 2013 campaign. “He showed promise as a route-runner and making some plays downfield. So we’ll see where it goes.”
–John Spanos, the team’s executive vice president of football operations, said a player’s work at the NFL Scouting Combine is just part of the picture.
“It’s certainly a big piece,” Spanos told chargers.com. “I like to say the meat of a guy’s grade is going to be the tape work, the college film and what he does on the field.”