Chargers Win Big Following NFL's Salary Cap Increase For 2024 Season

An improved team-building opportunity...

Your Los Angeles Chargers were treated to a surprise lucky break last week!

The NFL's salary cap is significantly more generous than had been initially anticipated, at a massive $255.4 million. That's a massive $30.6 million uptick over the $224.8 million line for the NFL's 2023 cap.

Per the calculations of The Athletic's Daniel Popper, this leaves the Bolts at $31.7M over the cap, a far cry from their prior anticipated mark of $45.8 million.

Here's Popper's full breakdown:

Spreadsheets in the CHAD

As always, please check my math. pic.twitter.com/B3L5aYXgln

— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) February 24, 2024

Either way, newly-hired Los Angeles general manager Joe Hortiz, most recently the director of player personnel for John Harbaugh's Baltimore Ravens, will have his work cut out for him this summer as he attempts to rebuild the Bolts.

Hortiz could opt to clean house by making some tough cap-related decisions, such as potentially offloading the lucrative contract of 2016 Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack via trade. The eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker was LA's best defender last year, but also didn't exactly help the team achieve even a league-average defense. Ditching Mack could save the Chargers as much as $23 million in cap room. Letting pricey, ineffective free agents like running back Austin Ekeler, linebacker Kenneth Murray and cornerback Michael Davis walk could be the easiest path forward for the Bolts.