Chargers cap space update after NFL trade deadline

The cap space outlook for the Los Angeles Chargers might have played a role in the team not making any moves at the NFL trade deadline.

While those Chargers were linked to a Saints superstar and reportedly sniffed around the idea of bringing back Mike Williams via trade with the Jets, Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz stood firm and didn’t make a move.

Financials likely played a role beyond the simple back-and-forth that goes on between teams during trade talks. After all, the Chargers only have roughly $6.9 million in free cap space right now, according to Spotrac.

That cap can be manipulated in any variety of ways, yes, but that number puts the Chargers just above the bottom 10 in cap space around the NFL:

San Francisco 49ers $52.5 million
Cleveland Browns: $45.4 million
Las Vegas Raiders: $36 million
New England Patriots: $35.4 million
Detroit Lions: $27.1 million
Washington Commanders: $25.1 million
Dallas Cowboys: $23.2 million
Miami Dolphins: $21.1 million
Jacksonville Jaguars: $20.1 million
Arizona Cardinals: $19.9 million
Tennessee Titans: $18.5 million
Green Bay Packers: $16.6 million
Indianapolis Colts: $11.5 million
Minnesota Vikings: $11.4 million
Philadelphia Eagles: $10.2 million
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $9.4 million
Pittsburgh Steelers: $9.4 million
Seattle Seahawks: $9.2 million
Cincinnati Bengals: $8.6 million
Atlanta Falcons: $7.9 million
Chicago Bears: $7.5 million
Los Angeles Chargers: $6.9 million
Houston Texans: $6.8 million
Denver Broncos: $4.4 million
New Orleans Saints: $4.2 million
Carolina Panthers: $4.1 million
New York Giants: $3.7 million
New York Jets: $.6 million
Los Angeles Rams: $3 million
Buffalo Bills: $3 million
Kansas City Chiefs: $2 million
Baltimore Ravens: -$1.4 million

Cap space, though, becomes a boon for the Chargers next offseason, where they are projected to have roughly $76 million—despite Justin Herbert’s cap hit ballooning to $37 million and before making a decision on the out built into Joey Bosa’s contract that is otherwise a $36 million cap hit.

The Chargers believe they can win now, which has proven true. But the cap number next offseason will spur plenty of change, too.

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