Full list of Chargers outgoing free agents: Who can the Bolts afford?

It is hard to find a 5-12 team with more buzz around it than the LA Chargers currently have. Despite all of the hurdles that the Bolts have to overcome, there are real expectations for the team next year thanks to the tandem of Justin Herbert and Jim Harbaugh.

The biggest hurdle that the Chargers must overcome is the salary cap. Los Angeles is $45.8 million over next year's projected cap, per Over The Cap, which is going to make it hard to add to the roster in free agency.

While the Chargers can make moves to free up money, it is hard to imagine the team being able to re-sign many of its impending free agents. As a result, we could see a lot of former Chargers sprinkled throughout the NFL, especially with the team having so many free agents on the books this offseason.

Complete list of Chargers free agents 2024:

Unrestricted free agents:

These free agents are free to sign with any team in the league this offseason. Free agents can officially sign on March 13, although the legal tampering window before the league year starts will allow some of these free agents to sign beforehand.

• WR Alex Erickson
• S Alohi Gilman
• RB Austin Ekeler
• DL Austin Johnson
• C Cameron Tom
• S Dean Marlowe
• QB Easton Stick
• CB Essang Bassey
• TE Gerald Everett
• WR Jalen Guyton
• S Jaylinn Hawkins
• RB Joshua Kelley
• EDGE Justin Hollins
• LB Kenneth Murray
• CB Michael Davis
• DL Nicholas Williams
• TE Nick Vannett
• S Tanner Muse
• C Will Clapp
• QB Will Grier

All in all, the Chargers have 20 unrestricted free agents heading into the offseason. A staggering 16 of the 20 played played at least 100 snaps on offense or defense last season.

Restricted free agents

While they are still free agents, restricted free agents don't always have a choice of leaving. Teams have the right to offer a tender of various value to each restricted free agent. You can read more about the different types of tenders here. The Chargers restricted free agents are the following:

• LB Amen Ogbongbemiga
• LB Blake Lynch

Donald Parham and Breiden Fehoko were both RFAs last offseason. The Chargers non-tendered both players, but agreed to a two-year deal with Parham while Fehoko was allowed to walk in free agency.

Exclusive rights free agents

Exclusive rights free agents are players whose contracts expired but they have less than three years of NFL service time. All the Chargers need to do it keep these players in LA is offer them the league minimum. LA has five exclusive rights free agents:

• OT Zack Bailey
• K Cameron Dicker
• WR Keelan Doss
• S Raheem Layne
• OT Foster Sarrell

Who might the Chargers re-sign in free agency?

It is tough to pinpoint just how much the Chargers can spend in free agency as we don't know how serious the team will be with the cap situation. The Chargers can free up just enough to get under the cap and have enough room for the draft and in-season moves, or the team can make more drastic moves to free up more space.

Either way, GM Joe Hortiz made it clear that he loves compensatory picks, so don't expect the Chargers to get in any bidding wars for players if they end up signing for enough to get the team a comp pick in 2025.

Of the unrestricted free agents, Alohi Gilman is the favorite to return as long as his price does not get too high. Easton Stick could also be brought back simply because of his relationship with Justin Herbert.

Amen Ogbongbemiga has been good on special teams so Ryan Ficken may petition for the Chargers to bring him back. As far as exlusive right free agents, the only no-brainer is Cameron Dicker, who was quietly one of the best kickers in the league last season.