Jim Harbaugh $45m Salary Cap Crunch Misunderstood As Chargers Raises…
When the smoke cleared after the 2023 NFL regular season, the LA Chargers seemed like the most desirable location.
While there’s something to be said about leading a rebuild, the modern game is all about quarterbacks. Joining up with Justin Herbert immediately addresses that concern. Now, the Chargers have made their pick from the available candidates and chose Jim Harbaugh.
On Wednesday, multiple sources, including Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport, reported that the AFC West club and the coach were working toward a union. And after some winks and nudges on social media, the club confirmed the hiring.
Again, having Herbert on the roster immediately makes things easier. The quarterback may not be perfect, but he is talented and has plenty of professional experience under his belt; he’s also under contract, making it clear that he’s the franchise cornerstone.
But easier doesn’t mean things will be a walk in the park. In fact, Harbaugh is walking into a salary cap situation that will immediately test his team-building chops.
When you think of an NFL coach’s job, it’s easy to focus on the X’s and O’s. What do they do in practice and on Sunday to get the win? And while that does matter, having a good roster is a key part of the equation.
In Los Angeles, that’s a challenge Harbaugh will have to immediately address. The club, according to Over the Cap’s numbers, is about $45 million north of the 2024 salary cap.
Things get even worse, however, when you consider effective cap space, which accounts for the top-51 players and the projected rookie class. There, the Bolts are projected to be roughly $55 million over the limit.
It goes without saying that represents a problem for any head coach, especially a new one. Harbaugh will want to bring in players that he feels can execute his vision, but LA has to worry about simply reaching compliance first. Being able to add players will require further penny-pinching.
And although contract restructuring can be somewhat of a cheat code, the Chargers do have to make some decisions regarding their big-name players.
Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Khalil Mack, all of whom account for more than $30 million apiece against the 2024 cap, will be entering the last year of their respective contracts. Do you decide to move on early, trying to save the money and get some assets in return? Or do you decide that the roster needs that level of talent, regardless of the risks?