The window for the Chargers is definitely open right now. After a 12-4 season, the team is primed to make another playoff run. But just how long will this window be open? Let’s take a look at some contracts getting ready to expire in the next two years.
Contracts to expire at the end of this season
Philip Rivers
Hunter Henry
Melvin Gordon
Mike Pouncey
Michael Schofield
Travis Benjamin
Adrian Philips
Trevor Williams
Jatavis Brown
There’s a lot of hoopla around Philip Rivers and whether he’s going to keep playing. He’s said he doesn’t want to play when he’s 40. He’s said he’s ready to coach high school football. He’s also said he’d like to play in the new stadium. Now what I really think it comes down to is that the team is good. I don’t see him retiring with the team being as good as it is. I do see at least two more years out of PR and that’s not the best news for the salary cap. If he wants 30-35 mill for his final years, that’s multiple guys we’d have to let walk in FA and try to replace in the draft. However, an old PR is probably better than whatever rookie we’d get in next years draft, so we just have to wait and see.
It sounds like they are trying to extend Melvin Gordon, but if I’m TT, I let him walk. We can find a replacement much cheaper in the draft and spend that money on other players. Mike Pouncey is a no for me as well, mostly due to age and injury history. Benjamin was actually just extended and his cap number this year is reduced, he’s very cut-able at the end of the season.
Hunter Henry and Adrian Philips are a definite extension for me as long as HH stays healthy. Both would be much harder to replace, and they’re top notch players. They also shouldn’t break the bank. Phillips wouldn’t fit in a lot of teams, but is valuable in our scheme.
The jury is still out on Schofield, Jatavis and Trevor Williams. I like all three, but it really depends on what happens this year for each guy.
We’re definitely going to lose a couple guys at the end of the year, it’s just a matter of which guys and at what cost.
Contracts to expire after next season
Joey Bosa
Melvin Ingram
Russel Okung
Keenan Allen
Denzel Perryman
Dez king
Forrest lamp
Dan Feeney
Oh you know, just a who’s who of the team hitting free agency in the same year. This is where not having to pay a QB huge money would come in handy. I’d try like hell to keep Bosa and Dez King. Each would get top dollar for their respective positions and it would be a massive blow to the team to lose either one. I would extend Keenan assuming he keeps his health and productivity up.
I would pass on Ingram and Okung to try to make room for King and Bosa. Although each is a good player in their own right, I don’t see either improving significantly and Okung is already overpaid as it is.
Jury is still out on whether I’d extend Perryman, Lamp and Feeney. The next two years are big for all three. I’m really on team Lamp, I hope he gets the opportunity to showcase his talent this year. Feeney needs to figure himself out if he wants to stay on the team. Perryman just needs to stay healthy for crying out loud.
That year would also be going into the last year of Casey Hayward’s deal. TT does structure his contracts to give himself flexibility later in the contract so he should be cut-able. But why would we cut him? Jaylen Ramsey would theoretically be available due to the Coughlin spats and Jags cap situation. He’s bff’s with Derwin too, but I really don’t see us being able to afford him. It’s more of a pipe dream at this point. But a secondary with Jalen, Dez King, Derwin James...scary. Getting back to reality, we most likely keep Casey and go after someone in the draft or a cheaper free agent the following year.
So in short, the team is going to lose big names over he next couple years. Expect the team to be very frugal in Free Agency and collect compensatory draft picks. The money should be focused on extending the guys we already have and keep the core of the team together. The key to keeping this window open will be the draft. TT has gotten better every year so there’s a chance we can keep the window open for a few years. Only time will tell. But if you do see the Chargers select a guy at a seemingly set position, look to the contracts and you may see that TT is planning ahead.