Free agent news

We are 22 days away from the opening of free agency, and the San Diego Chargers will have plenty of options to choose from when that day arrives. There were a couple interesting developments I noticed while scanning the internet this morning.

1.      The Detroit Free Press reports Lions defensive end Cliff Avril wants a long-term contract worth about $12 million a year. Avril says he may hold out if the Lions slap the franchise tag on him.

"I don't want to be franchised," Avril said. "That's basically what I got last year. The tender was basically the same thing. I just want security and longevity."

Avril is 26 and finished with 11 sacks last season, a career high. He seems to be a player on the rise, something the Chargers could use to complement outside linebacker Shaun Phillips next season.

2.      According to the Sporting News, the New Orleans Saints still don’t appear to be close to reaching a long-term deal with quarterback Drew Brees, who’s scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent next month.

The following three paragraphs from the Sporting News article should get Chargers fans excited, as Saints offensive guard Carl Nicks is a player who would provide a huge upgrade on San Diego’s blocking unit:

If GM Mickey Loomis can't complete talks with Brees and his handlers in time, there is a possibility he could designate Brees the Saints' franchise player, Jeff Duncan notes on NOLA.com. That tag must be applied by 3 p.m. March 5, but it would give the sides the certainty they are believed to want while continuing negotiations on a long-term deal.

Part of the problem for the Saints might involve their long list of potential free agents. In addition to Brees, Loomis is looking at the possibility of losing top wideout Marques Colston, guard Carl Nicks, wideout Robert Meachem and starting cornerback Tracy Porter.

So the Saints likely have a math puzzle to answer. Do they keep Colston to retain a top playmaker for Brees? If so, does that necessarily eliminate Nicks unless he agrees to a hometown discount? Complicating that equation is the seven-year, $56.7 million contract they cut with Jahri Evans last year. Evans, like Nicks, is a guard—and SI.com suggests Nicks is better than Evans.

In the past, Chargers general manager A.J. Smith has been reluctant to spend big money in free agency, but these are two players he should be monitoring closely over the next month. And if Avril and Nicks happen to reach free agency, Smith should pursue each of them with great conviction.