The Chargers released veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks on Tuesday, the first of what figures to be several roster moves as they contend with significant salary cap issues. By cutting Kendricks, the Chargers will gain $6.5 million in cap savings, according to the website overthecap.com.
The Chargers are roughly $19 million over the cap, with an NFL-mandated deadline of March 13 to get under the record-high figure of $255.4 million for next season. Other cap casualties could include wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and edge rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack.
Those four standouts each have a cap hit of $32 million or more for 2024, led by Mack at $38,517,500. Speculation has centered on the likelihood that the Chargers would give Allen a contract extension, release Williams and trade Mack before the deadline and the start of free agency March 13.
Allen, who turns 32 next month, topped 10,000 yards receiving for his career this past season. Williams, 29, and Bosa, 28, were sidelined by injuries for significant portions of the 2023 season. Mack, 33, set a career high with 17 sacks this past season and topped 100 for his Hall of Fame-caliber career.
Releasing Kendricks was the first player personnel move made by new Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz, who was hired Jan. 30 to replace Tom Telesco, and coach Jim Harbaugh, who was hired Jan. 24 to replace Brandon Staley. Telesco and Staley were each fired Dec. 15.
Kendricks, a standout at UCLA who played eight seasons with the Minnesota Vikings before signing a two-season, $13.25-million contract with the Chargers last year, was a defensive team captain. He also was the Chargers’ second-leading tackler with 117, including 79 solo, during the 2023 season.
“In terms of the cap, I’m confident we can get there because you have to get there,” Hortiz told reporters at the draft combine last week in Indianapolis, drawing laughter from those assembled. “I have no choice but to get under the cap,…
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