3 Chargers Veterans Who Could Be Cut After NFL Draft

The Los Angeles Chargers find themselves in quite the pickle. They desperately need a starting quarterback and the majority of their key players are due for new contracts in 2021. Other than that, they have a solid core entering the new season and carry seven selections in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Given the team doesn't have many spots to fill, these three veterans could be cut by the Chargers in order to make room for the incoming rookie draft class.

3. Sam Tevi

If the Chargers take an offensive tackle in the first round, Sam Tevi could be shown the door. / Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

The Chargers were able to bring in former Green Bay Packer Byran Bulaga to replace Russell Okung, whom the team traded to the Carolina Panthers for guard Trai Turner. But it wouldn't hurt them to take a right tackle. There's buzz that the Chargers may not take a quarterback with their sixth overall pick, which would put them in prime position to take a star offensive lineman. If general manager Tom Telesco does that, that would give him incentive to cut ties with Sam Tevi. Even though Telesco has praised Tevi to the media, he's not a quality tackle, hence the team's mission to bolster the O-line this offseason. Tevi accounts for a little over $40,000 in dead money, so the decision should be easy for the Chargers.

2. Mike Pouncey

The Chargers could opt to part ways with Mike Pouncey, who's status is in flux due to a neck injury. / Mark Brown/Getty Images

Mike Pouncey is an intriguing case for the Chargers. He shined at the start of last season, but after five games he was ruled out for the season with a neck injury. The ailment is very serious and doctors have yet to clear him. In his absence, Scott Quessenberry filled in admirably. There's also the possibility that Los Angeles could take a center in Day 2 of the NFL Draft, as plenty quality options are expected be on the board for them. If the Chargers choose to part ways with Pouncey, they'll save around $5 million in cap space, which would create ample financial flexibility.

1. Virgil Green

Los Angeles Chargers TE Virgil Green / Katharine Lotze/Getty Images

The Chargers placed the franchise tag on Hunter Henry and clearly still possess faith in the wildly athletic tight end. Injury troubles have kept him off the field for 20 games the past two seasons, which means LA need a better option behind him than Virgil Green, who has only 28 receptions in 31 games the past two seasons. He's due to make $3.5 million in 2020, but has a dead cap hit of just $800,000. That's an easy decision to make if the team drafts a younger, more talented pass catching option at tight end.