The Chargers entered Wednesday needing to free up cap space ahead of the new league year. They did so by releasing Mike Williams, but edge rusher Khalil Mack remained in place via a restructure. Fellow defensive end Joey Bosa will take the latter route as well. 
Bosa has agreed to a re-worked Chargers pact, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. As a result, his 2024 cap figure will be lowered and he will remain in place for at least one more season. The former third overall pick was one of four players set to count more than $32MM against the cap in 2024, with a projected charge of $36.6MM. Converting the maximum amount allowable of Bosa’s $15MM base salary into a signing bonus would create $10.4MM in savings.
Given the team’s financial situation leading into free agency, it was widely expected the Chargers would cut or trade at least one member of the quartet set to occupy a major portion of their cap space (the three aforementioned players and wideout Keenan Allen). Mack and Bosa were reported as the ones Los Angeles was most likely to move on from, and the team spoke with potential suitors to gauge their markets. Any deal would not have come at market value, of course, given the contract an acquiring team would have taken on. New general manager Joe Hortiz has thus elected to run back the Mack-Bosa tandem in 2024.
The latter was due a $7MM roster bonus tomorrow, leading to urgency on Hortiz’s part to work out Bosa’s future despite the cap relief brought about by moving on from Williams and restructuring Mack. As The Athletic’s Daniel Popper reports, at least one team showed interest in trading for the four-time Pro Bowler before today’s move was worked out (subscription required). Rather than moving on with two years left on his contract, Los Angeles will keep him in place for a ninth season with the franchise.
Bosa has been limited to just 14 games over the past two seasons, so questions will be asked about his ability to remain healthy moving forward. The Ohio State alum has posted nine sacks in that span, after reaching double-digits four times in a season earlier in his career. At age 28, however, he should be able to continue playing at a high level with better luck on the injury front. The Chargers’ defense would benefit substantially if that were to be the case.
Los Angeles entered Thursday in worse cap shape than any other team in the NFL, per Over the Cap. That situation will change given today’s move with Bosa, but it will be interesting to see if another cost-clearing move is made with an Allen restructure. In any event, much more clarity has arrived for the team’s veteran nucleus compared to where things stood at the start of free agency.
Soooo, there really isn’t a “cap” in the NFL.
Never has been. Just kick it down the road and everything works out later.
The bill comes eventually. Some teams are better at juggling than others. Philly makes great tactical use of dead cap. New Orleans is going to have a grim season one year.
They have close to 21 million of dead money this year from Jackson. Mack’s deal was from Chicago was backloaded reason why they moved him. Telesco did draft replacements for defensive end and wide receivers to fix it unfortunately he drafted Johnston instead of flowers or Kincaid( not a wr but would’ve solved a hole) instead he got a wide receiver that can’t catch or jump even if he can if he wanted.
This year is that year for the Saints, they cut Michael Thomas & their most notable signing is Nathan Peterman.
The last team that was ‘over the cap’ was Denver in the mid 90’s after winning their SB’s w/ Elway. 100% perfect for 30+ teams (expansion team joining) for 30 years.
Not to long ago the contracts weren’t guaranteed. As far as the cap definitely have one. did you just start watching football last week? they just move the money around every team does it. Bobby Bonilla and Griffey jr are still getting payed. The money still counts against the cap just gets deferred over a couple years, and the chargers had around 140 available next year so why not. Also the reason they have this mess is because they signed jc Jackson and released him after a year
Your point about moving money is dead-on, but you can’t pin this mess all on the Jackson contract. They went into the offseason with seven different players slated to have cap hits over $19 million. Telesco really didn’t plan this roster well at all, especially given his failure to find more good cheap players in the draft.
I am glad everyone is staying in Charger Land, it is good for the Chargers and good for the NFL
“Yeah!”
-Ekeler, Williams, Everett, Kendricks, Jackson, Staley, Telesco
You miss Staley???
From a dark comedy standpoint only. But no I was just pointing out how they had a lot of change actually. Which is probably ok for a team that will draft 5th.
Ah ha but they did keep two players they might ha e considered trading in Mack and Bosa
Mack & Bosa will be available at the trade deadline for a late round pick. They simply pushed out the money to some ridiculous cap number! They should try to trade these guys at the draft otherwise trade them at the deadline.
@detroitdave Mack told the front office he wanted to stay, and he would accept any restructured deal. Probably the last year of allen and Mack they will let the go for comp picks.
Love this
Damn, hoping he was traded, not a winner and always hurt