The LA Chargers head into the 2025 offseason with more resources than the team had a year ago. A year ago, the Chargers had to scramble to create cap space just to be cap-compliant. This year, the Chargers enter the offseason with $63.4 million in projected cap space, which is the fifth most in the NFL.
With big-name free agents in positions of need such as Trey Smith and Tee Higgins, as well as the desire to re-sign Khalil Mack, the Chargers may look to create even more cap space this offseason.
The Chargers can drastically increase the ample cap space the team already has with four simple moves this offseason. By doing so, the Chargers could put themselves in a great position to welcome multiple marquee names this offseason.
4 moves the Chargers can make to save $54 million in cap space
Trading/cutting Joey Bosa - $25,360,000
Joey Bosa's unclear future in Los Angeles has been well-documented this offseason as all signs are pointing to him being a cap casualty. While he is still one of the biggest names in the league at the edge rusher position, Bosa did not play up to his price tag in 2024.
Bosa was an average edge rusher in 2024 and yet again missed time with injury, which has become a bit of a trend in recent years. As great as Bosa has been in years past, his recent production does not come close to warranting his $36.4 million cap hit next season.
Ideally, the Chargers would get someone to bite on Bosa via trade hoping he can be a one-year boost at the edge rusher position. If that doesn't happen, the Chargers will likely cut ties with him solely to create more cap space.
Cutting Trey Pipkins - $6,750,000
The Chargers tried Trey Pipkins at right guard last season and it didn't work. Now, with the ability to get out of his contract, the Chargers must move on and find someone to replace Pipkins as the team's starting right guard in 2025 and beyond.
Cutting Pipkins was not a possibility last offseason as it would have cost the Chargers money to do so. Pipkins did not do enough to save his Chargers career as his struggles at right guard should spell the end of his tenure in Los Angeles.
Pipkins should not be a starter next season and the Chargers are not going to pay a backup offensive lineman, especially one who was not all that impressive, $9.25 million. That is far too expensive for a mediocre backup offensive lineman.
Signing Rashawn Slater to an extension - $14,296,000
Rashawn Slater is eligible to sign an extension this offseason and it is in the Chargers' best interest to get a deal done sooner rather than later. The last thing the Chargers need is a contract dispute to bleed into training camp, especially considering his price will only continue to climb the longer the Chargers wait.
Slater's future cap hits will be substantial but an extension can save money on the books this season as it would convert some of his salary to a signing bonus. According to Over The Cap, the Chargers can save just shy of $14.3 million in cap space by extending Slater this offseason.
Restructuring Derwin James' contract - $7,747,500
The Chargers do not have much restructure potential this offseason and of the players they can restructure, Derwin James makes the most sense. Granted, this move is still the least likely of these four as it would increase his cap hit in 2025, but if the Chargers need the space now they can make this happen.
A simple restructure would convert James' $13.75 million salary into a signing bonus spread out between this season and 2026, which is James' last year under contract. As a result, James' 2025 cap hit would fall to $16.1 million while his 2026 cap hit would climb to over $31 million.
The Chargers would still be able to theoretically cut James next offseason to save money next offseason if they had to but that might not even be needed. As it stands right now, the Chargers rank 31st in cap spending for 2026 with $174.6 million in projected cap space.
Granted, that will shrink if the Chargers make several big moves this offseason but the team can afford one elevated cap hit year of James if they need to spend an additional $7 million this offseason.
The Chargers would end up with over $117.5 million in cap space if they made these four moves.