The LA Chargers have far more resources this offseason than a year ago but that won't keep the team from cutting players to create more cap space where it makes sense.
Over The Cap projects the Chargers to have just over $63 million in cap space heading into the offseason. This is the sixth-most projected cap space in the league and puts the Chargers in a position to build on the foundation established by Jim Harbaugh in 2024.
Part of building on that foundation is breaking down old support walls that no longer match the future vision of the house Harbaugh is trying to build. With that in mind, there are several players on the Chargers who may be cut for salary reasons this offseason.
Chargers who are all but guaranteed to be cut this offseason:
Joey Bosa
Joey Bosa is the biggest cut candidate on the Chargers after a year in which he looked perfectly average as an edge rusher. Bosa still had his moments where he looked like the Bosa of old but for the most part, he was a smack-average edge rusher who is set to make over $36 million next season.
The Chargers can create $25.36 million in cap space by cutting Bosa this offseason. With Khalil Mack spurning retirement, it makes perfect sense to cut Bosa and pay Mack with the money saved. Mack's contract will probably be less than $25.36 million, meaning the Chargers can save money by keeping Mack.
If Bosa's cap hit were smaller his spot on the team would be locked in stone. But with a lofty cap hit made worse by injury concerns and underwhelming play, it is hard to imagine Bosa donning the powder blue in 2025.
The two feasible ways in which Bosa can avoid being cut is if the Chargers can trade him or if Mack decides to sign elsewhere and the Chargers keep Bosa out of sheer necessity.
Trey Pikpkins
The Chargers gave Trey Pipkins a chance at right guard and now it is time to move on from the converted tackle. Los Angeles had to keep Pipkins in 2024 as it would have cost the team more money to cut ties with him. This was a luxury the Chargers could not afford.
Now, the Chargers can cut Pipkins and create $6.75 million in cap space. The Chargers can afford to sign a serviceable depth offensive lineman who will perform far better than Pipkins with the money saved by cutting him.
It is not even about the extra $6.75 million in cap space, though. The fact of the matter is Pipkins is not a starting-quality offensive lineman in the NFL and the Chargers are not going to pay $9.25 million for him to be a mediocre backup.
Ja'Sir Taylor
This is not for monetary reasons as the Chargers wouldn't really save much by cutting Ja'Sir Taylor. In fact, the Bolts would save just $1.1 million in cap space by cutting Taylor this offseason. This is more so about the Chargers turning a page to the future and leaving low performers behind.
Taylor was a Brandon Staley draft pick through and through and he simply has not worked out in the NFL. The sixth-round pick has not been as bad as JT Woods but he was extremely disappointing last season on a Jesse Minter defense that elevated everyone else.
There is a sizeable chance Taylor makes it to training camp solely to be waived as part of the team's roster cuts. However, if the Chargers need an additional roster spot, or want to use that $1.1 million for another draft pick or backup quarterback, then Taylor's fate will be sealed.