Tag: Chargers cap space

Chargers 2024 offseason preview: Pending free agents, cap space, team needs, draft picks

Examining the Chargers’ offseason, including team needs, pending free agents, and salary-cap space.

After finishing 5-12, the Chargers are set to enter the offseason. While their focus is bringing in their next head coach, they will quickly have to shift gears and get ready for the roster reconstruction.

Los Angeles is still a couple of months away from the new league frenzy, but it’s not too early to look at what to expect then, starting with 27 players who are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents.

  • Essang Bassey
  • Will Clapp
  • Michael Davis
  • Austin Ekeler
  • Alex Erickson
  • Gerald Everett
  • Alohi Gilman
  • Will Grier
  • Jalen Guyton
  • Jaylinn Hawkins
  • Justin Hollins
  • Austin Johnson
  • Joshua Kelley
  • Dean Marlowe
  • Kenneth Murray, Jr.
  • Tanner Muse
  • Easton Stick
  • Cameron Tom
  • Nick Vannett
  • Nick Williams

Cap space

The Chargers are projected to be $44 million over the salary cap in 2024, the second-worst situation in the NFL.

Team needs

Interior defensive line: Brandon Staley made the point to bolster the interior part of the defensive line with the signings of Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson two offseasons ago. Joseph-Day was released after Staley was fired and Johnson will be a free agent. Nick Williams will be, too. That leaves Morgan Fox, Otito Ogbonnia and Scott Matlock. The Chargers need more juice up front with players who can rush the passer and defend the run.

Running back: Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley are set to hit the free agency market, leaving Isaiah Spiller as the primary back on the roster. After having lackluster rushing offenses the past few seasons, the Chargers need to make the point to add at least two backs to improve this positional group, one as a pure runner and the other with a multi-dimensional skill set.

Wide receiver: Mike Williams and Keenan Allen are still on the roster, but given they are slated for cap hits of over $30 million and the Chargers are going to be strapped for cash, they could be dealt to clear up some space. Even if Allen is brought back, he is not getting any younger. Joshua Palmer has shown that he can be a reliable receiver. The jury is still out on Quentin Johnston, who struggled in his rookie season. The bottom line is that Los Angeles still lacks speed and dynamic playmakers at the position.

Tight end: The Chargers needed to upgrade the tight end room last offseason and after failing to do so, they saw how crucial it was they neglected it. While they got some contributions from Gerald Everett in the passing game, Los Angeles didn’t have an impactful blocker, which was detrimental in the running game. Everett is set to be a free agent, leaving Donald Parham and Stone Smartt as the tight ends on the roster. They need a bonafide No. 1.

Secondary: The Chargers finished with the third-worst pass defense during the regular season. Some of the issues were attributed to Staley’s scheme and the others were the players. Michael Davis’ play was up and down. Davis will be a free agent. Asante Samuel Jr. made plays in coverage, but struggled as a run defender. As for the safeties, Derwin James was far from the player we’re used to seeing, often getting beat in coverage. Alohi Gilman was consistent, but he will be a free agent.

Center: The anchor of the Chargers’ offensive line of the past two seasons, Corey Linsley, is likely going to retire due to a heart issue that kept him sidelined for most of 2023. Will Clapp, who started in place of him, is a free agent. Brenden Jaimes got three starts to close out the season when Clapp got hurt and he played well, but they need a true starting center with experience.

Draft picks

The Chargers have the No. 5 overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft, and they are projected to have seven total picks.

10 most-expensive Chargers against 2024 salary cap

A look at the most expensive players the Chargers have on the hook entering the 2024 calendar year.

The Chargers have a lot of work to do this offseason, and it all starts in free agency. However, it won’t be an easy task as Los Angeles will be about $40 million over the salary cap.

So it might take some contract restructuring and cutting if they wish to spend in free agency. With that, here are the 10 most expensive players the Bolts have going into the 2024 calendar year.

Chargers restructure contracts of Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack ahead of free agency

The Chargers continue to create salary cap space ahead of free agency.

Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack restructured their contracts on Saturday, creating a total of $25.99 million in cap space for the Chargers, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.

Los Angeles converted $22.835 million of Bosa’s base salary to a bonus that nearly cut his cap number to $15.776 million, according to Over the Cap.

Mack’s $21.553 million base salary was converted to a bonus that will be prorated over two seasons and reduced his 2023 cap hit to $16.6 million.

Keenan Allen and Mike Williams had their contracts restructured earlier this week, which created $14.37 million in space.

While it’s ideal this year, the Chargers’ cap situation will be tricky next offseason. Mack’s cap hit for 2024 is $38.5 million, Bosa’s is $36.6 million, Allen’s is $34.7 million and Williams’ is $32.5 million.

L.A. entered the offseason $20.5 million over the salary cap.

Now that they’re cap compliant before the new league year begins this Wednesday, the Chargers’ priority will be re-signing their internal free agents, which is headlined by Drue Tranquill, Trey Pipkins and Morgan Fox.

Additionally, they will need to sign Justin Herbert to a long-term contract extension.

Chargers WRs Keenan Allen, Mike Williams restructure contracts

The Chargers restructured the contracts of receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, saving nearly $14.5 million in cap space.

The Chargers’ salary cap situation got a bit of relief on Thursday when the team restructured the contracts of receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams to save nearly $14.5 million heading into free agency.

Even with this move, the Chargers still have work to do to get under the cap threshold before the regular season. Their decision to convert Allen and Williams’ salaries to bonuses is a swisemove by Los Angeles’ front office, though the increased flexibility won’t come without some strings attached.

Allen and Williams are effectively un-cuttable in this arrangement, and the team is fully committed to keeping both receivers on the roster through the end of the 2023 season. Should they need to part ways with either player, they would absorb the entirety of the bonus money against their salary cap, causing massive dead-money numbers that would not be able to be recouped.

While this risk certainly seems worth the reward at this juncture, the Chargers will need to do everything in their power to ensure that this move doesn’t come back to bite them throughout the 2023 season. Having their top two wideouts on the roster is undoubtedly an advantage for Los Angeles. Still, situations and circumstances will need to play into their favor to ensure that their decisions in March don’t affect their ability to contend in December and January.

Every NFL team’s estimated salary cap space in 2023

Here is a look at where each NFL team stands in terms of their salary cap flexibility ahead of the 2023 offseason.

The NFL announced their $224.8 million salary cap number for the 2023 season this week, which is sure to have implications for the Los Angeles Chargers as well as the league’s other 32 teams.

Los Angeles is currently overextended relative to the cap and will need to make some tough decisions in the offseason to get under the salary threshold heading into the new season. Though they don’t necessarily need to part ways with the top talent on their roster, the Chargers’ fiscal mobility relative to player contracts is severely restricted at this juncture.

Check out every team’s projected cap space below to see just how deep the hole general manager Tom Telesco will have to dig out of:

Tom Telesco unperturbed by the Chargers’ cap situation heading into offseason

Tom Telesco didn’t seem to think the Chargers’ cap situation was an issue heading into the 2023 season.

Chargers general manager Tom Telesco talked about the team’s future and his organization’s trajectory heading into the offseason.

With a total cap liability well over the league’s maximum, Los Angeles seems destined to make some hard moves over the next several months to get their spending back to where it needs to be before the new season starts.

Asked how the upcoming free agency frenzy might differ from previous years, Telesco wasn’t sure how the Chargers’ cap situation might affect his ability to make moves to improve Los Angeles’ roster.

“I don’t know about other offseasons. It may be different than last year’s offseason. Every year is a little bit different. This year will be a little bit different, not as much [salary cap] space to work with, which is fine. Every offseason is a little bit different. Certainly, this year will be different than last year’s.”

The Chargers are currently projected to be $19.4 million over the salary cap in 2023, the fifth-worst situation in the NFL. Therefore, after going all out in free agency a year ago, it’s unlikely that Telesco will swing for the fences.

Instead, he may have to make some tough decisions to free up some cap space to sign a rookie class and free agents, as well as extend eligible players like quarterback Justin Herbert.

Chargers 2023 offseason preview: Pending free agents, cap space, team needs, draft picks

Examining the Chargers’ offseason, including team needs, pending free agents, and salary-cap space.

After finishing 10-7 and making the playoffs for the first time since 2018 in Brandon Staley’s second season as head coach, the Chargers are set to enter the offseason.

Los Angeles is still a couple of months away from the new league frenzy commencing, but it’s not too early to look at what to expect then, starting with 15 players who are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents.

  • S Nasir Adderley
  • CB Bryce Callahan
  • WR Deandre Carter
  • C Will Clapp
  • DT Christian Covington
  • QB Chase Daniel
  • DT Tyeler Davison
  • DL Morgan Fox
  • OT Trey Pipkins
  • LB Troy Reeder
  • TE Richard Rodgers
  • P J.K. Scott
  • QB Easton Stick
  • LB Drue Tranquill
  • LB Kyle Van Noy

Cap space

The Chargers are projected to be $19.4 million over the salary cap in 2023, the fifth-worst situation in the NFL.

Team needs

Edge defender: Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack’s time on the field in their first year together was short-lived after Bosa sustained a groin injury that kept him out for most of the season. While Bosa was out, the pass-rush production from the position group left a lot to be desired. Mack will be 32 when the 2023 season starts. Kyle Van Noy will be a free agent. Chris Rumph has not had much of an impact. In a pass-happy league, you need players to disrupt quarterbacks consistently. The Chargers would benefit from a premier pass rusher, especially as they start preparing for life after Mack.

Wide receiver: Mike Williams made an impact when he was on the field, as did Keenan Allen. But when they weren’t due to their respective injuries, their absences were felt significantly. Joshua Palmer made strides from his rookie to sophomore season. There is a possibility that Allen could be a cap casualty, whether that be releasing or restructuring him. But the bottom line is that the Chargers lack speed at receiver, and they must address it to create more explosive plays in the passing game, something they lacked this season.

Tight end: Gerald Everett supplied the offense with a consistent piece in the passing game, finishing with career-highs in receptions (55) and receiving yards (555). But the other guys in the tight end room were astray. Donald Parham appeared in six games after dealing with a hamstring injury he sustained in training camp and a concussion. Tre’ McKitty was drafted in 2021 to be an inline blocker, but he was underwhelming in that department and did not offer much value as a receiver. With Parham’s injury concerns looming and the stagnant status of McKitty, the Chargers would benefit from a complete player at the position to complement Everett in 2023 and take over as the No. 1 when Everett hits the free agency market after the upcoming season.

Safety: Nasir Adderley struggled down the final stretch of the season, which resulted in Alohi Gilman getting more playing time than Adderley, including the playoff game against the Jaguars when Gilman got the start. The Chargers not playing Adderley in the most important game of the season could be telling for his future status with the team since he will be a free agent in March. 2022 third-round pick JT Woods was taken with the idea of playing him as the deep safety to allow Derwin James to move all over the field. But that never came to fruition as Woods struggled as a tackler in the limited defensive snaps he played, and he was a non-factor defensively.

Linebacker: Drue Tranquill was one of the Chargers’ best defenders this season, leading the team in tackles and making an impact not just against the run but as a pass rusher and in coverage. Tranquill is a free agent, and even though he proved that he should be a priority re-signing, it would not surprise if the team let him go, considering they let Kyzir White walk in free agency last year despite him coming off a really solid season in 2021. Kenneth Murray still has not lived up to his first-round billing. Troy Reeder is a free agent. Nick Niemann and Amen Ogbongmeniga have been solid, just on special teams. While it’s not a premium position in Brandon Staley’s defense, Los Angeles could use another player that is prolific at stopping the run.

Draft picks

The Chargers possess the No. 21 overall selection in the 2023 NFL draft, and they are projected to have seven total picks.

Here are details of Chargers WR Mike Williams’ contract extension

Contract details for Los Angeles Chargers WR Mike Williams’ extension and the salary-cap space the team currently has.

The Chargers and Mike Williams agreed to a contract extension to keep the big-bodied wide receiver in Los Angeles for the next three seasons.

Here is what we know about Williams’ new contract:

Williams’ contract is worth $60 million for three years, with $40 million guaranteed, including a $21 million signing bonus.

His signing bonus ($21 million), 2022 salary ($7 million), and 2023 salary ($12 million) make up the fully guaranteed money.

Los Angeles has a potential out in 2024 to save $20 million in cap space with a $7 million dead money charge.

Assuming no voids, his cap hit in 2022 will be worth $14 million, $19 million in 2023, and $27 million in 2024, according to Over The Cap.

After Williams’ new deal, L.A. currently has the fifth-most salary cap space in the NFL ($42.3 million).

One of the potential cap causality is tackle Bryan Bulaga, who if/when he is released, the Chargers would save an additional $10.8 million.

2022 salary cap space: How much are Chargers rolling over from 2021?

The Chargers have the sixth-highest cap space rollover in the NFL.

The salary cap for the 2022 season is expected to jump to around $208 million, $25 million more from last season for the Chargers and the other 31 teams in the NFL.

At the moment, Los Angeles’ salary cap situation looks good heading into 2022, but it’s only going to get better.

ESPN’s Field Yates took a look at what NFL teams rolled over in cap room and L.A. saved $9.05 million to add to the estimated $68 million that it will have available when the new league year begins.

The Bolts have 20 free agents that they will have to decide whether or not they feel are worth some of that money before diving into the free agency pool to find talent at positions of need.

Chargers 2022 offseason preview: Pending free agents, cap space, team needs, draft picks

After falling short of the playoffs, let’s look at the Chargers’ offseason, including team needs, pending free agents, and salary-cap space.

After finishing the season 9-8 in Brandon Staley’s first season as head coach, the Chargers are set to enter the offseason after seeing their season end with a loss to the Raiders on Sunday night.

Los Angeles is still a couple of months away from the new league frenzy to commence, but it’s not too early to take a look at what to expect then, starting with 20 players who are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents.

  • DT Linval Joseph
  • CB Chris Harris Jr.
  • WR Mike Williams
  • TE Jared Cook
  • G Oday Aboushi
  • CB Ryan Smith
  • EDGE Kyler Fackrell
  • EDGE Uchenna Nwosu
  • QB Chase Daniel
  • G Michael Schofield
  • K Dustin Hopkins
  • G Senio Kelemete
  • LS Matt Overton
  • DT Christian Covington
  • TE Stephen Anderson
  • DT Justin Jones
  • LB Kyzir White
  • S Trey Marshall
  • RB Justin Jackson

Cap space

The Chargers are projected to have $72.5 million in salary-cap space, marking the second-most in the NFL, according to Spotrac.

Team needs

Defensive tackle: The Chargers finished with the third-worst run defense in the league, and a lot of it has to do with the lack of talent upfront to consistently hold its own at the point of attack. Furthermore, Linval Joseph, Justin Jones, and Christian Covington are all slated to be free agents.

Edge defender: Joey Bosa had another great season, but the depth behind him is thin at the moment. Uchenna Nwosu put together a resume that should garner consideration of being re-signed, playing his best football towards the end of the year. Like Nwosu, Kyler Fackrell is also a free agent.

Linebacker: Outside of Kyzir White, who proved to be the team’s best linebacker, the production at the position was inconsistent. Kenneth Murray was arguably the most disappointing player on the roster. Drue Tranquill missed four games due to an ankle injury. The jury is still out for Nick Niemann and Amen Ogbongbemiga.

Cornerback: Asante Samuel Jr. proved to be the Chargers’ best cornerback in just his first season, but he had two concussions. Michael Davis played well, but nothing to warrant the money he was paid last offseason. Chris Harris Jr. will be a free agent after this season. Tevaughn Campbell didn’t do anything to be relied upon as a starter.

Right tackle: Bryan Bulaga is still under contract, but his future is up in the air after dealing with injuries during his time with L.A. Storm Norton’s poor play against the Raiders exemplified that he isn’t reliable enough to be counted on as a long-term starter. Trey Pipkins played well in his two starts and should be given a shot to compete for the job in the summer, but the team still needs a surefire starter to protect Justin Herbert.

Right guard: In the five games as the starter, Oday Aboushi was a difference-maker upfront. Unfortunately, his one-year stint was cut short after suffering a torn ACL. Aboushi is a strong candidate to be brought back. But if the Chargers move on from him, they will need someone to compete for the job, possibly with Brenden Jaimes.

Wide receiver: The Chargers are set for the foreseeable future with their No. 1 wideout in Keenan Allen. However, behind him, the room draws some questions. Will Mike Williams be re-signed, franchise-tagged, or let go of altogether? Is Josh Palmer ready to take the leap as the No. 2 guy if Williams walks? Regardless, one thing is certain: Los Angeles needs a speed/yards-after-the-catch weapon.

Running back: Austin Ekeler thrived in his first season under Joe Lombardi, reaching 20 total touchdowns, which tied for the most this season. However, he will need a running mate moving forward to help with his longevity, and that guy doesn’t appear to be on the roster. Coming into his own late in the season, Justin Jackson will be a free agent. Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree had their opportunities but left a lot to be desired.

Draft picks

The Chargers possess the No. 17 overall selection in the 2022 NFL draft, and they are projected to have 11 total picks, with eight coming on Day 3 (four compensatory).