My Chargers stretched last year to keep running back/return man Darren Sproles off the open market, tendering him at the highest possible level as a restricted free agent. But it's not likely San Diego will be willing to do whatever it takes to keep him around this time. With the Chargers having drafted running back Ryan Mathews in the first round last season, and facing a high tender for potential restricted free agent Mike Tolbert, Sproles is viewed as only the third most valuable commodity in the San Diego backfield.
Though he'll only be 28 this June, Sproles won't command a $7.2 million base salary like he did last season, and San Diego will trust that its No. 1-ranked offense can compensate for his departure. The Chargers have 28 potential free agents, and probably will franchise No. 1 receiver Vincent Jackson. With Mathews and Tolbert representing the future, Sproles' run in San Diego appears to be nearing its end.
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