What to expect from Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers in free agency
LOS ANGELES -- When the Los Angeles Chargers' previous leadership restructured the contracts of many of the team's top players last year, they knew the financial consequences would come after the season.
The Chargers finished the season 5-12 and brought in a new coach and general manager, but the cap issues remain.
Coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz have already begun navigating these constraints, releasing linebacker Eric Kendricks and restructuring the contract of center Corey Linsley, who will likely retire.
The Chargers are still $19 million over the salary cap, with decisions to make on their stars, including outside linebackers Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa, and wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, all while needing to fill holes almost everywhere on the roster.
Here's a look at the Chargers' notable free agents and players who could be playing elsewhere next season:
Extension/Restructure/Trade/Cut candidates
OLB Joey Bosa
Bosa, 28, has played just 14 games over the past two seasons, missing time with hamstring, foot and toe injuries. The frustration of those injuries was evident when Bosa left the field in tears after spraining his foot in a Week 11 loss to the Green Bay Packers. When healthy, Bosa was one of the best edge rushers in the NFL, making three straight Pro Bowls from 2019 to 2021, but his injury history has been concerning. Bosa has two years remaining on a five-year, $135 million contract extension he signed in 2020.
A post-June 1 release or trade would save the Chargers $22 million this season, with a dead money charge of $14.6 million. A pre-June 1 release or trade would save the team $14.3 million and come with a dead money charge of $22.2 million. Either scenario would save the Chargers $25.3 million in 2025 and incur a dead money charge of $7.6 million.
WR Mike Williams
Williams, 29, missed the final 14 games of the 2023 season after tearing his ACL in Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings. In 2022, Williams fractured his back in the Chargers' final game. The Chargers drafting Quentin Johnston in the first round of last year's draft always indicated that Williams or Allen could be on their way out of L.A. Williams could now be the odd man out. He is in the final year of a three-year, $60 million contract he signed in 2022; a release or trade would save the Chargers $20 million in 2024, while incurring a dead money charge of $12.46 million.
WR Keenan Allen
Allen had one of the best seasons of his career in 2023, setting the franchise record in receptions (108) through just 13 games. He will be 32 in April, but Allen is the team's longest-tenured player and has expressed his desire to stay in L.A. In January, he told reporters he would consider retiring before playing elsewhere. Allen has one year left on his contract, and a release or trade would save the Chargers $23.1 million in 2024, with a dead money charge of $11.6 million.
OLB Khalil Mack
Mack, 33, like Allen, is coming off perhaps the best season of his career. Mack finished with 17 sacks, the most in his career and fourth best in the league. He has been less Chargers-or-bust on his stance for the future, but has one year remaining on his contract. A trade or release would save the Chargers $23.2 million, with a dead money charge of $15.2 million in 2024.
For all of these players, the Chargers can navigate the salary cap by restructuring, extending or adding void years to contracts.
Notable Free agents
In his first season as a full-time starter in 2023, Gilman was one of the team's best defenders. He consistently delivered big hits to opposing receivers, including New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson in Week 9, which resulted in a fumble. Gilman also flashed talent at tracking interceptions, such as in Week 16 against the Buffalo Bills when he intercepted quarterback Josh Allen.
Gilman was a popular name at the NFL combine, with multiple league sources pointing to his fearlessness at hitting opposing players. The Chargers will likely have competition if they want to bring Gilman back.
Each Everett catch has the potential to be a highlight, primarily because of his explosiveness after the catch. He averaged 5.4 yards after the catch, often bulldozing multiple defenders with his 6-foot-3, 250-pound frame. Everett's weakness comes as a blocker, which the Chargers will need in Harbaugh's offense because of its rushing focus.
Jim Harbaugh's defenses in San Francisco were built around great inside linebackers (see Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman). Harbaugh hired Bowman to coach the team's linebackers, so this position will undoubtedly be important. After releasing Eric Kendricks on Tuesday, the Chargers have rookie Daiyan Henley (51 defensive snaps in 2023) and Nick Niemann (238 defensive snaps in 2023) on the roster. Over his first four seasons, Murray has had lapses in coverage and run defense, but had his best season in 2023, tied for the most tackles in his career (107) despite missing two games. The Chargers could look to get Murray back with their lack of depth at the inside linebacker spot.
After the best season of his career in 2022, Davis had a downturn in 2023 that saw him in and out of the lineup and benched for multiple weeks. According to Pro Football Reference, he allowed 13.8 yards per completion, 8 touchdowns and a 65.2% completion rate when targeting him, which were all career worsts. Because of Davis' down season, the Chargers may be able to get him back at a team-friendly price in the hopes that he can return to 2022 form when he allowed a 48.6% completion rate on targets, 9.9 yards per completion and just 2 touchdowns.
It was a tumultuous year for Ekeler that began with an offseason trade request and ended with his worst season as a starter. But those struggles had as much to do with the Chargers' middling offensive line play as with Ekeler appearing to have lost some explosiveness. Despite tying a career-high drop rate (8.1%), Ekeler was still a reliable receiving option. He averaged 10.2 yards after the catch in 2023, the second highest in the NFL.
When talking to reporters in January, Ekeler wouldn't rule out a return to the Chargers but had mentioned a focus on winning at his next stop throughout the year.
