5 Pending Free Agents Chargers Should Let Walk

The five free agents that the Chargers should let walk.

Every NFL team has to make tough decisions in the offseason, especially those who are dealing with difficult cap room situations. The Los Angeles Chargers are one of the worst teams in cap room available heading into the 2024 season. 

As it stands, the Chargers are $45 million over the cap, according to Over The Cap. This leaves little room to work with now that the team must find a way to rebuild to return to AFC relevance. 

Whoever the new general manager is, they must make tough decisions in terms of which upcoming free agents to potentially keep. Thankfully, there are some FAs on the team that should be a given. 

RB - Austin Ekeler 

Austin Ekeler has been with the Chargers his entire career, but that relationship has soured. Last season when Ekeler posted 915 rushing yards and 13 TDs. He coupled that with 127 receiving yards and 5 receiving TDs for a total of 1,042 all-purpose yards and 18 TDs. 

While those stats were enough to warrant a new deal, Ekeler asked for too much money, leaving him to hold out until the beginning of the 2023 season. Ekeler should have had a contract year, instead he slipped in production on both fronts.

He secured 628 rushing yards, 5 rushing TDs, 74 receiving yards, and 1 receiving TD. 

Instead of working out a new deal, it is most likely Ekeler will be signing with a new team in 2024. 

CB - Michael Davis

As much as the secondary of the Chargers is a weak point, Michael Davis has not panned out to be a contributor on the back end of the field. 

Opponent QBs averaged 65.2% completion and 119.2 passer ratings when throwing against Davis. To make matters worse, he has only secured one interception in each of the past three seasons. 

While not every CB needs to secure a multitude of interceptions each year, they need to be able to cover and stop opposing receivers from being able to catch the ball. Davis is an easy cut. 

LB - Kenneth Murray

As much as the Chargers have wanted Kenneth Murray to emerge as a star player, he has just been a middle of the pack or less linebacker. Murray's total tackles of 107 peg him low on the list of most LBs in the league. 

While he secured three sacks in 2023, it's just not enough for the Chargers to give him a new contract for 2024. Murray should have paired well with Eric Kendricks, but his play has not been enough to make heads turn. 

DL - Austin Johnson

Austin Johnson secured 72 tackles and 3.5 sacks in his 2021 season with the New York Giants, making him an easy acquisition for the Chargers. Sadly, that was his last good season. 

Johnson sadly fractured his left knee and injured his MCL in the 2022 season, leaving him with only eight games under his belt. While he worked hard to return to true form in 2023, it did not happen in a way that should warrant a new deal. 

Johnson secured 46 tackles and no sacks, which is a big reason why the Chargers will likely move on. 

TE - Gerald Everett

Putting Gerald Everett on this list might seem a bit odd, but the tight end had a so-so campaign in 2023 that could lead to the Chargers drafting his replacement. 

At pick #5, the Chargers could secure Brock Bowers from Georgia, who could end up being a plug-and-play starter from the beginning. Everett may have secured 411 yards and 3 TDs, but his injuries could play a factor in his release. 

Should the Chargers decide to pick Bowers early on, expect Everett not to receive a new deal before free agency starts.