On Monday, NFL teams are required to cut their rosters from 90 players to 75. It'll be a tad easier for the Chargers, who currently only have 88 guys on the roster. They'll only need to part ways with 13 guys.

Many teams have already begun announcing these cuts, but the San Diego Chargers have a history of waiting until the last minute to do so. Still, I think we can take a look at the roster and see which guys will get the "first axe".



QB

Philip Rivers

Charlie Whitehurst

Jarrett Lee

These three guys are safe. Lee will get the axe next week, after getting a final chance to show off his skills against the 49ers.



HB

Ryan Mathews

Ronnie Brown

Jackie Battle

Curtis Brinkley

Michael Hayes

Edwin Baker

Baker seems to be getting more carries than Hayes these days, and he's the guy the team drafted. Hayes got zero touches against the Vikings, so he won't be needed in San Francisco.

FB

Le'Ron McClain

Jacob Hester

These guys are safe. Hester has an outside chance of missing the final cut, but I wouldn't count on it.



TE

Antonio Gates

Randy McMichael

Dante Rosario

Ladarius Green

Kory Sperry

Brad Taylor

This is a bulky group, which is why Taylor has barely seen the field at all. He can go.



WR

Malcom Floyd

Robert Meachem

Eddie Royal

Vincent Brown

Micheal Spurlock

Roscoe Parrish

Richard Goodman

Mike Willie

Taylor Embree

Phillip Payne

Jason Barnes

With Royal expected back on Thursday, 8 healthy receivers should be plenty to keep Floyd and Meachem from getting injured.



OT

Jared Gaither

Jeromey Clary

Mike Harris

Mario Henderson

Anthony Davis

Charlie Bryant

Michael Toudouze

Phil Trautwein

Stephen Schilling

Any of those last four can go, but Bryant has shown me the least. I think the team still like Schilling, otherwise he'd be the guy. Don't be surprised to see more than one OT get cut.



OG

Tyronne Green

Louis Vasquez

Rex Hadnot

Johnnie Troutman

Brandyn Dombrowski

The last two are headed to the IR (probably) and the top 3 will make the final cut.



C

Nick Hardwick

David Molk

Colin Baxter

Hardwick isn't going to see much playing time, if any, as he recovers from his concussion. That's enough reason to keep two guys behind him.



NT

Antonio Garay

Aubrayo Franklin

Cam Thomas

Eddie Brown

Garrett Brown

Garrett Brown got busted for PEDs a couple weeks back. Not that he had a chance to make the team, but that (plus the fact that he's been injured for most of camp) all but assured him first cut. Eddie Brown hasn't done anything.



DE

Corey Liuget

Vaughn Martin

Kendall Reyes

Jacques Cesaire

Logan Harrell

Damik Scafe

I like what I've seen from Harrell. Scafe is wrapping up his second consecutive unimpressive preseason with the Bolts.



OLB

Jarret Johnson

Shaun Phillips

Melvin Ingram

Antwan Barnes

Larry English

Darryl Gamble

Bront Bird

Ricky Elmore

Johnson and Phillips are vets, they won't see much field in SF. Ingram might not either, after getting his thigh bruised against the Vikings. Larry English is always an injury risk and has done enough to lock up a spot for the regular season. Depth here is important for the last preseason game.



ILB

Donald Butler

Takeo Spikes

Jonas Mouton

Demorrio Williams

Andrew Gachkar

The team has its reasons for not wanting to cut any of these guys. We'll see if they all make the final team, but they'll definitely all make this round of cuts.



FS

Eric Weddle

Darrell Stuckey

Sean Cattouse

Sorry, Cattouse. You bring nothing to the table that Stuckey and Lynch don't already bring. He could maybe make this round of cuts if the team doesn't want to risk giving Stuckey almost a full game worth of reps, but I think he could use the work.



SS

Atari Bigby

Brandon Taylor

Corey Lynch

Lynch has been a solid addition to the team. Might not make the final team, but makes this round.



CB

Quentin Jammer

Antoine Cason

Marcus Gilchrist

Shareece Wright

Greg Gatson

Arthur Hobbs

De'Andre Presley

Hobbs, Gatson and Presley have all been pretty terrible. Hobbs has seen the least amount of field time and Presley at least does some stuff on special teams. Hobbs could be kept if the secondary walks into San Fran as banged up as they have the first 3 preseason games.



K

Nate Keading

Nick Novak

Time to let Novak get a shot with someone else.



P

Mike Scifres

Robert Malone

The team is done with the "brin in another Punter so Scifres doesn't have to work too hard" part of the season. Now it's time for Scifres to get in some work.



LS

Mike Windt

Nick Guess

Guess whose getting cut?



Do you agree? Do you think I cut anyone that should stay? Let your voice be heard in the comments.