The Chargers locked up defensive end Joey Bosa to a five-year extension, making him the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL.
Now – his partner-in-crime – Melvin Ingram, feels like he’s worthy of a big raise.
Ingram, who’s slated to become a free agent after this season, has yet to practice at training camp because he’s not happy with his current contract situation, according to The Athletic’s Daniel Popper.
Ingram carries a $16.625 million salary cap hit in 2020, which is the largest on the team’s roster.
However, none of Ingram’s $14 million base salary is guaranteed for 2020, and any coronavirus-related shutdown of this season would push his unearned money to a future contract.
Ingram could be seeking “any number of possible outcomes” Popper said. Ingram’s agent, David Mulugheta, said he’s not after guaranteed money. He could be leveraging Los Angeles for a new deal ahead of free agency, or seeking “a signing bonus as an advance on his 2020 base salary.”
There is no timetable for if and when the former South Carolina product will return to practice.
We will continue to monitor this situation closely.