"Around the League" is taking a look at each team's salary-cap situation heading into training camp. Next up: the San Diego Chargers.
Adjusted cap number: $118.588 million
Cap room remaining: $2.862 million
Best bargain: Though he's not a full-time starter, outside linebacker Antwan Barnes came off the bench to post 11 of the team's 32 sacks in 2011. According to Football Outsiders Almanac, Barnes also had 16.5 hurries, the highest amount on the team. Nine of Barnes' 11 sacks came over the final 10 games of the season, and his production came while earning $1 million in base salary in the first of a two-year, $3.2 million contract that has zero performance incentives. Barnes is not expected to start this season, but his valuable pass-rushing skills will get him plenty of playing time, and his $1.6 million base salary makes him a bargain.
Malcom Floyd caught 43 passes for 856 yards and five touchdowns last season, ranking in the top 10 in Football Outsiders' top metrics (DYAR and DVOA) while earning $2 million in the first year of a two-year, $5 million contract. With Vincent Jackson signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Floyd is the de facto No. 1 receiver and is scheduled to earn $3 million in total compensation this season.
Potential camp casualty: Speaking of outside linebackers, veteran Shaun Phillips' sack production dropped to 3.5 last season from 11 in 2010. With Phillips scheduled to earn $4.4 million in base salary this season, he could find his roster spot in jeopardy if Barnes or one of the Chargers recent first-round picks Melvin Ingram (2012) and Larry English (2010) push him for the starting job opposite free-agent acquisition Jarrett Johnson.
Certainly on the bubble is Brandyn Dombrowski, a reserve offensive tackle who is scheduled to earn $1.26 million in non-guaranteed base salary in 2012. Dombrowski was a spot-starter and played about a quarter of the team's offensive snaps, but he was remembered most for getting worked over by then-Oakland Raiders linebacker Kamerion Wimbley on the NFL Network last November. With Jared Gaither expected to lock down the left tackle spot, Dombrowski will have to beat out Mario Henderson for the No. 3 tackle job this summer.
Contract issue looming in 2013: Both of the San Diego Chargers starting cornerbacks -- Quentin Jammer and Antoine Cason -- will be unrestricted free agents after this season. Jammer turned 33 last month, so it's fair to assume that retaining Cason will be the higher priority, with the former Arizona standout and 2011 early-round picks in Marcus Gilchrist and Shareece Wright forming a young, talented trio. Projected starting guards Tyronne Greene and Louis Vasquez will also be unrestricted free agents.
