The LA Chargers have made quite a few signings this offseason but the team has not taken the big swing that fans expected. While the Bolts have brought in the likes of Mekhi Becton and Mike Williams, fans expected at least one big contract with ample cap space this offseason.
Alas, the Chargers have decided to operate around the fringes and take chances on rehabilitating players in free agency. One of those players is cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, who is joining the Chargers after a multi-year stint with the Washington Commanders.
It is never a good sign when an entire fanbase cheers when a player leaves in free agency, which is exactly what Washington fans did when St-Juste signed with the Chargers. To be fair, St-Juste has been one of the worst cover corners in the league in recent years so it is not hard to see why Commanders fans are okay moving on from him.
It's hard to pinpoint what exactly the Chargers see in St-Juste and it is now clear that the Chargers may not have a concrete idea, either. St-Juste's contract details reveal he is the flier of all fliers, as none of his base salary in 2025 is guaranteed.
#Chargers one-year, Benjamin St. Juste deal: $2.5M, $1M signing bonus, salary $1.5M, $500K playtime, interceptions incentive , $1M total guaranteed
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 14, 2025
Benjamin St-Juste's contract details show little faith from Chargers
St-Juste's contract was originally reported to be a one-year, $2.5 million contract but once we take a look under the hood it is clear that this is essentially a more expensive futures/reserve contract from the Chargers.
The Chargers are not committing anything to St-Juste and if he does not show signs of improving in training camp then the team may cut ties before the 2025 season begins. This is the perfect example of the Chargers paying slightly more to bet on St-Juste's athletic upside with the hopes he can figure it out under Jesse Minter.
The only thing guaranteed to St-Juste is his $1 million signing bonus that he receives upfront. If things don't work out, and the Chargers cut St-Juste before the 2025 season, he will carry just a $1 million cap hit next season.
If the Chargers believed in St-Juste as a rotational cornerback then at least some of his one-year base salary would be guaranteed. But by signing this kind of deal, the Chargers are essentially telling St-Juste that he has to earn his spot on the roster just like any other fringe roster player.
Other one-year fliers at least received some kind of guarantee on their deals. For example, linebacker Del'Shawn Phillips has $400,000 of his $1.55 million base salary guaranteed for 2025. Phillips also has a $150,000 per game roster bonus. St-Juste has no such bonus.