Chargers News: Bolts' 2024 Cap Space Among The Worst In The League

Where do the Chargers rank in cap space?

New Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz has a lot of work to do with his new team, particularly in terms of the salary cap.

The Chargers rank 30th in projected salary cap space for 2024, with -$45.8 million, per PFF. 

The Chargers rank 30th in 2024 cap space (-$45.8m) 😳 pic.twitter.com/OjKzZZpOwh

— PFF LA Chargers (@PFF_Chargers) February 1, 2024

The Chargers' biggest cap hits in 2024 are Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Justin Herbert, Derwin James and Corey Linsley, with each of these players taking up over 5% of the Chargers cap space. Mack, Bosa, Allen and Williams are each taking up almost 13% or more of the cap hit.

The only thing is each of these players have been some of the most effective for the Chargers, particularly Mack and Allen in 2023. While Williams and Bosa weren't, they were dealing with injuries and are two high-caliber players when healthy.

It's hard to see the Chargers dropping any of these players or trading them, but they could always opt to restructure a contract, or work on lowering their cap issues through some of the players on the roster making less. The Chargers will also need to be ready for Justin Herbert to take a much bigger cap hit in the upcoming years, with this being the final year of his rookie contract.

This may mean that the Chargers opt to focus on primarily building through the draft. Several teams have done this successfully as of late, including the Detroit Lions. The good news for the Chargers if they take this route is Hortiz has loads of experience as a scout and acquiring top players through the draft from his time with the Baltimore Ravens.

Most likely though, the Chargers will have to build their team through a combination of maneuvering the cap and drafting wisely.