Chargers face cutting veterans to create more salary cap space
One way to predict where free agents will sign is by examining players’ social media pages as the NFL’s legal tampering period begins on March 15. But a better way is to outline their connections with the coaching staff.
Many are linking Rams safety and soon-to-be free agent John Johnson to the Chargers because he had a career year with Brandon Staley, who became the Chargers’ head coach in January after one season as the Rams’ defensive coordinator.
Another way of making freeagency predictions is by looking at position needs. The Chargers need to get better on the offensive line and that’s why many pundits have them signing center Corey Linsley if the Green Bay Packers don’t retain him.
The Chargers are well positioned to chase those top free agents, but if they also want to keep some of their in-house free agents, like tight end Hunter Henry, cornerback Michael Davis, safety Rayshawn Jenkins and defensive end Melvin Ingram, they will need to release a few notable veterans to create more cap space.
The Chargers aren’t scrambling to get under the projected $180 million salary cap floor, but as general manager Tom Telesco mentioned last week, their cap space can quickly evaporate. As of Tuesday, the Chargers have a projected $24.66 million in cap space, eighth most in the NFL, according to OvertheCap.com.
“Your cap number may look good, but once you take out restricted freeagent tenders, exclusive rights minimum qualifying offers, your draft picks, your practice squad next year — which could be 12 players, could be 14, could be 16 — your in-season budget, then even our own guys that we would like to re-sign, that doesn’t leave a whole lot of wiggle room,” Telesco said. “However, we’re in a better position than most right now. So, I’m not going to complain about that. It’s a fluid situation, basically on a day-to-day basis right now.”
With a new coaching staff looking for scheme fits and multiple position needs, Telesco will likely be faced with tough cap-related decisions before the free agency frenzy.
If the Chargers want to be big spenders, here are four veterans who could be released with no guaranteed money left on their contracts:
(All salary and cap numbers are from Overthecap.com)
Trai Turner, 27, offensive guard, 8th season
2021 base salary: $11million
Cap hit: $11.5million
Dead money: $0
Cap savings: $11.5million
Backstory: The Chargers took a risk when they traded left tackle Russell Okung to the Carolina Panthers last year for Turner, but they were getting a five-time Pro Bowler in his 20s with an expendable contract. A year later, the Chargers’ gamble didn’t pay off because Turner was plagued by injuries and struggled on the field for arguably the worst season of his career. Turner missed seven games and played a career-low 536 offensive snaps (46 percent). Perhaps injuries are to blame for Turner’s subpar play, but it seems the Chargers don’t plan on finding out. Last week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Chargers are looking to trade or cut Turner.
Prediction: The Chargers will release Turner because he’s not owed guaranteed money and the organization won’t have to eat dead money for cutting ties. This move would allow the Chargers to take another swing at upgrading the offensive line and chase top free agents. They came out on the losing end of the trade and are now left without a left tackle and right guard, but they at least get another atbat by getting rid of Turner’s contract.
Casey Hayward, 31, cornerback, 10th season
2021 base salary: $9.75million
Cap hit: $11.75million
Dead money: $2million
Cap savings: $9.75million
Backstory: Telesco’s best free-agent addition of his eight-year tenure is signing Hayward in 2016 for a bargain three-year deal worth $15.30 million. The former Green Bay Packer broke out with the Chargers and developed into one of the best outside corners in the NFL. Hayward was named to the Pro Bowl in 2016 and 2017 and earned a second contract from the Chargers, a three-year, $34.25 million deal that expires after the 2021 season. Hayward was again outperforming his contract before his 2020 season was derailed by injuries. With his large cap hit and age, the Chargers are likely considering the option of moving on from Hayward.
Prediction: This might be Telesco’s toughest decision before free agency, but the guess is that the Chargers will release Hayward. This, however, would leave the Chargers with a large vacancy at outside corner and could push them to draft a cornerback in the first round instead of an offensive lineman. But the cap savings would allow the Chargers to retain their top in-house free agents (Henry and Davis) and maybe chase a top offensive lineman in free agency -- that’s if Hayward and Turner are released.
Chris Harris Jr., 31, cornerback, 11th season
2021 base salary: $5.5million
Cap hit: $11.25million
Dead money: $3.75million
Cap savings: $7.5million
Backstory: Harris had a rocky first season with the Chargers because he missed seven games after a foot injury in Week 3 against the Panthers. But he made an immediate impact when he returned to the field by containing wide receivers from the slot position and his extensive defensive knowledge helped the Chargers close games and end the season on a four-game winning streak. The former Bronco is heading into his age-32 season, but he’s still a productive slot cornerback who’s familiar with Staley’s system from their lone season together in Denver in 2019.
Prediction: If the prior guesses are correct, the Chargers will keep Harris and re-sign Davis for a formidable cornerback duo. But in the NFL, you need three top cornerbacks, and the Chargers would still be left searching for a No. 1 outside cornerback. Harris is a versatile cornerback, but better suited from the slot. Davis made big strides last season, but the Chargers likely view him as a solid
No. 2 outside cornerback. But with the cap-space flexibility, the Chargers can attempt to lure Johnson from the Rams, and if star safety Derwin James stays healthy, the Chargers can gamble with a rookie or an affordable veteran starting as an outside cornerback.
Linval Joseph, 32, nose tackle, 12th season
2021 base salary: $5.5million
Cap hit: $11.9million
Dead money: $4million
Cap savings: $7.9million
Backstory: Joseph didn’t play at a Pro Bowl-level in his first season with the Chargers, but showed he still had plenty left in the tank by filling gaps and freeing star edge rusher Joey Bosa to chase quarterbacks. Joseph also provided leadership and received rave reviews from many coaches and teammates in 2020.
Prediction: The cap hit will tempt Telesco to part ways with Joseph, but he’ll eventually decide to keep Joseph because the Chargers are thin on the defensive line. With Bosa likely rotating often from the edge to the interior of the defensive line in Staley’s defensive scheme, clogging lanes will be a priority, and no Chargers defensive lineman does that better than Joseph. Also, the Chargers likely don’t want to be charged $4 million in dead money. As of Tuesday, the Chargers only owe $58,009 in dead money, by far the least in the NFL.