Los Angeles Chargers Became Cap-Compliant, But It Comes With A Significant Roll Of The Dice

The Los Angeles Chargers have done enough salary-cap gyrations in the past week to be on the right side of the ledger when the new NFL year begins next week.

When deciphering the math, are the Chargers to be applauded for their gutsy moves?

Or are they knee-capping themselves into the future with four players scheduled to have cap hits in excess of $32 million in 2024.

The Chargers are banking on their fab four to make sweet music this season before those huge numbers arrive.

L.A. has shoved its chips toward the middle of the table in a quest to do something special before being saddled with standout quarterback Justin Herbert’s second contract.

Edge rushers Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa and wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams have restructured their deals to provide the Chargers with cap relief as they now sit nearly $26 million under the cap, according to various reports.

But it comes with a huge risk, considering the foursome’s ages and recent history of missing multiple games.

Mack, the only player of the quartet to play in all the Chargers’ games last year, leads the 2024 list with a $38,571,500 hit. Bosa, who started just four games in 2022, is at $36,611,666.

Allen, who’s cap number is $34,717,500, was idle for seven games last season.

Williams is coming off a season in which he skipped four games and then was unavailable for the playoffs after he suffered a back injury in a meaningless regular-season finale. Williams comes in at $32,460,000 for cap purposes.

Add up those deductions from the $224.8 million cap (which should increase next year) and the Chargers’ management has tied up more than 55 percent of their allotted funds on four players.

All of them are decorated performers, but their recent injuries are just one red flag. Bosa, 27, and Williams, 28, are the youngest members of the bunch.

Mack, who was restricted to seven games in 2021, recently turned 32. Allen is on the wrong side of 30 as well, even if just barely.

The overriding point is that the Chargers, who haven’t advanced to an AFC title game since the 2007 season, are throwing caution to the wind before Herbert’s rookie deal of four years at $26.5 million, with a fifth-year option, expires.

Herbert, who has thrown for the most yards (14,089) and the second-most touchdowns (94) in his first three seasons in NFL history, has an extremely reasonable $8.4 million cap number this year.

Herbert’s cap hit climbs to $29.5 million next season if the Chargers exercise their option. L.A. and Herbert could sign a long-term deal before the 2024 season which would alter that figure.