The Los Angeles Chargers have built arguably one of the strongest coaching staffs in the NFL for the 2024 season. However, amid excitement for the year ahead, a dreadful financial situation is expected to force significant Chargers cap casualties which could include several star players.
All-Pro center Corey Linsley, who is expected to medically retire, did the team a favor by reducing his base salary from $11.5 million to the minimum for the upcoming season. However, that’s far from enough to rescue Los Angeles from the situation former general manager Tom Telesco left them in.
- Los Angeles Chargers cap space 2024: $-25.674 million
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Heading into the offseason, wide receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen along with edge rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack were identified as potential Chargers cap casualties. If Los Angeles moved on from all four, it would create more than $80 million in cap relief.
However, that would deprive the Chargers roster of a significant amount of talent and also result in a leadership drain from the locker room. Amid speculation and debate over which players will be kept, more definitive information emerged from the NFL Combine.
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ESPN’s senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler wrote after the NFL Scouting Combine that he left Indianapolis “optimistic” that Allen will return to the team in 2024. Los Angeles might restructure his contract to reduce his cap hit or work out a new contract, but the belief is that he will remain the Chargers’ top wideout.
As for Mack, he might not have to become a cap casualty. There’s reportedly enough interest in him around the league that Los Angeles could swing a trade. While the return won’t be high, trading him would free up more than $10 million of cap space and even more depending on how much of his deal Los Angeles covers.
Bosa seems to be the wild card for the Chargers. In the last two seasons, the edge rusher has only played in 16 combined games and is only responsible for 14 quarterback hits and 9 sacks over that span. Los Angeles might give him another year, but it’s evident he is on the bubble as of now.
Why Mike Williams is the likeliest Los Angeles Chargers cap casualty
Williams’ future with the Chargers is far more bleak. Fowler reports that the 6-foot-4 wideout could be released this spring. Once the 7th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Williams tore his ACL just three games into last season.
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The Chargers recognize the talent Williams offers, but he’s also in an unfavorable situation. Los Angeles could designate Williams as a pre-June 1 release and generate $17 million in cap space. If he is designated as a post-June 1 release, that brings $20 million of cap relief.
Returning from an ACL tear isn’t Williams’ only problem, he’s also proven to be inconsistent. In 2022, he had five games with 90-plus receiving yards, five contests under 35 receiving yards and he missed an additional four games. One year prior, he had six performances with 90-plus yards and five with fewer than 40 receiving yards.
Considering the overwhelming depth of talent in the 2024 NFL Draft, it makes it all the more likely that Williams will not be wearing a Chargers uniform in 2024. However, as of now, he and Mack might be the only two aforementioned starters not with the team next season.
