Now that Jim Harbaugh has been hired to be the next head coach, the biggest storyline around the LA Chargers is how the team is going to become cap-compliant for the 2024 season. As it stands right now, the Chargers are $45 million over next year's projected salary cap, per Over The Cap.
There are several ways that the Chargers can get under the salary cap this offseason. With a $34.7 million cap hit, many have speculated that parting ways with Keenan Allen could be in the cards to save salary-cap space. After all, if Allen is traded or cut before June 1 then the Chargers will free up $23.1 million in cap space.
Some of that speculation was quelled last weekend when Harbaugh specifically mentioned Allen as a "pro's pro" prior to the AFC Championship Game. If that was not enough, Allen himself made sure to put this speculation to bed.
During an interview appearance at the 2024 Pro Bowl, Allen was asked about meeting Harbaugh and his future with the Chargers. Allen painted it in black and white for Chargers fans: he is not going anywhere and will be on the Chargers in 2024.
“Yeah, absolutely. I don’t see myself going anywhere.”
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) February 2, 2024
My @nflnetwork 1-on-1 with 6-time Pro Bowl WR Keenan Allen clear on his expectations for Chargers future + his early convos/message from new HC Jim Harbaugh. pic.twitter.com/5hTCp5eFtI
Keenan Allen confirms he will be on the Chargers in 2024
Of course, Allen is not the one making the roster decisions and if the team really wanted to then it could part ways with the veteran wide receiver to save cap space. But based on Allen's assurances, as well as the fact that Harbaugh keeps mentioning him, it is safe to say that Allen will be on the team in 2024.
This was always the right move for the Chargers to make. Allen proved in 2023 that he can still play at an elite level and is Justin Herbert's favorite target in the passing game. Making your franchise quarterback's life harder with a new head coach and offensive coordinator probably isn't the smartest thing to do.
Sure, the Chargers could save a lot of salary-cap space by cutting ties with Allen but the team can also create space by extending him as well. For example, the Chargers could sign Allen to a fully guaranteed two-year, $24 million extension and convert $12 million of his base salary in 2024 into bonuses for the two extra years.
If the Chargers were to do that, Allen's cap hit would be $22.7 million in 2024 and $18 million in both 2025 and 2026. That could give the Chargers the flexibility they need to reduce cap space to an appropriate number for next season.
Regardless, Keenan Allen is going to be a Charger next season.