Eric Weddle has been one of the best players on the San Diego Chargers‘ roster for almost a decade. He has been an All-Pro at safety five times and has constantly come up with big plays for his team. He is one of the true leaders on the team, and gives their defense a playmaker in the secondary. Unfortunately, the organization was unable to sign him to an extension last year, and a disagreement over halftime has made the relationship between the two almost irreparable. The Chargers cannot afford to lose their veteran safety over the 2016 offseason, but there is little hope that he will stay.

Weddle is now 31, and his game will surely be on the decline. He played most of this season with an injury, and wasn’t as effective as he normally is. However, Weddle relies more on instincts than athleticism in order to be successful, and we have seen other safeties play well even at an older age. He probably has at least two more productive seasons in him, maybe even more. He can also serve as a mentor to some of the younger players on defense, as he is a true professional who plays the game the right way.

The Chargers do not have much at safety besides Weddle, and it is certainly a position that they will need to address in free agency or the draft. Jahleel Addae has been a player that the organization is excited about, but he goes for the big hit too often and as a result is caught out of position. They have several players who provide depth, but they aren’t good enough to consistently start and be an impact player. There is talent at cornerback, but the team needs someone who can play the middle of the field and provide them cover.

There is a pretty good chance that the Chargers will lose Weddle this offseason, and he is one of the players on the roster that they will have trouble trying to replace. He has been a committed player to the team, and always plays at a high level. They line him up all over the field, and his versatility is a defensive coordinator’s dream. If he leaves, the Chargers will surely miss his leadership, talent, and professionalism.