Chargers Have No Intention Of Trading Philip Rivers, Instead Plan To Franchise Him Next Year?

Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean writes that trading for Chargers QB Philip Rivers “makes plenty of sense” for the Titans, as they need to find a face-of-the-franchise quarterback.

On top of that Rivers has obvious ties to Titans HC Ken Whisenhunt form their time together in San Diego.

However, there are real obsticles to a potential trade such as figuring out the additional compensation it would require for the Chargers to move up to No. 2 overall. Beyond that, there’s also the issue of Rivers’ contract, which is up at the end of the year.

Tennessee would have to be willing to pay him a market value deal that would likely require around $20 million per year. Rivers, of course, would have to be willing to sign a long-term deal for any of this to be a possibility.

Interestingly enough, NFL Network analyst Charlie Casserly spoke to the Chargers, who mentioned that they have no plans to trade Rivers and instead are preparing to franchise him in 2016.

“The Chargers told me, ‘We’re not trading him.’ They told me they’d have him under contract (for 2015) and then we’re franchising him and that’s it,” Casserly said. “I haven’t followed up, but that’s what I was told last month.”

Casserly mentions that if he were Titans GM Ruston Webster, he would pull the trigger on the trade for Rivers, if San Diego changed their minds and were willing to include him in a trade.

“Yeah, I’d do it,” Casserly said. “But, of course, that all depends on what it would cost you.”

Casserly added the Titans may have to part with No. 2 overall pick and future a second-round pick in 2016 with the Chargers potential having to include a pick for this deal to work. 

Assuming Casserly is right that the Chargers plan to franchise Rivers, it would run them close to $18.5 million or so next year. Although, a long-term deal could reduce his immediate cap figure in the event they need more cap room to work with.

Rivers, 33, is entering the final year of his seven-year, $98.25 million contract that included $38.15 million guaranteed. He stands to make a base salary of $15.57 million for the 2015 season.

Despite dealing with some injuries last  year, Rivers was able to put together another solid season for the Chargers in which he threw for 4,286 yards while completing 66.5 percent of his passes to go along with 31 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.

Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 7 quarterback out of 39 qualifying players.