The Chargers currently have about $16.5 million in cap space left for 2022.
While Tom Telesco historically uses roughly $7 million of that on in-season acquisitions, that still leaves close to $9.5 million that should be rolled over onto the 2023 cap.
It’s an important number to watch with a few critical contributors set to hit free agency. With that being said, here’s an early look at the offensive players Los Angeles will need to decide on next offseason.
Likely to be Retained
Chase Daniel, QB (UFA)
Jalen Guyton, WR (RFA)
Donald Parham, TE (RFA)
Given Justin Herbert’s glowing comments about Daniel during OTAs last week, it certainly seems as though the veteran will be welcome to stay in LA as long as he wants to keep suiting up – and possibly longer if he wants to get into coaching afterward. The only way I see Daniel departing next offseason is if he retires or if an even cheaper veteran presence with the same mind for the game comes available. Even then, the relationship Daniel and Herbert have built should keep him on the roster.
Guyton will be given a shot to prove that the lack of deep threat production a season ago was due to problems on the offensive line and not a lack of talent on his part. The fact that the Chargers declined to add to the WR room in the draft also suggests their confidence in Guyton’s abilities. Expect him to be WR4 or 5 this season, with a few big plays when he and Herbert connect on a bomb. As long as he’s not wholly unplayable this season, LA will probably extend him his RFA tender.
Parham should continue to have a sizable role in Joe Lombardi’s offense in 2022, after a mini-breakout campaign in 2021 that was cut short due to a scary concussion late in the season. He may yield a few targets to veteran Gerald Everett, but it shouldn’t be any more than he gave up to Jared Cook a season ago. If Parham’s developmental trajectory continues on this course, his RFA tender could be a tremendous bargain for a Chargers team that has its fair share of stars due for huge paydays.
Make or Break Season
Storm Norton, RT (RFA)
Trey Pipkins, RT (UFA)
This will probably come down to how the right tackle battle goes this offseason and how the winner performs throughout the year. Norton has already had his exclusive rights tender picked up this offseason despite struggling for most of 2021 as the starter, so clearly, the front office feels good enough about an $895,000 price tag this season. Pipkins is an interesting one to evaluate from the outside looking in, considering that he’s barely played since being drafted in 2019. He was always going to be a project coming from Sioux Falls, and he’ll likely need to show that it’s been worth the wait if he wants to remain a Charger beyond 2022.
If Norton or Pipkins wins the job convincingly and plays well, expect them to be back in the fold in 2023. If they’re just okay but keep the job all season, I’d still expect the winner of this offseason’s competition to be brought back as Band-Aid depth. But if both struggle and right tackle continues to be a pain point for this offense, expect both Norton and Pipkins to be looking for work elsewhere while LA looks for another option, likely near the top of the 2023 draft.
Too Early to Tell
DeAndre Carter, WR (UFA)
Will Clapp, C (UFA)
Both Carter and Clapp were acquired this offseason, and their futures on the team will likely hinge almost entirely on their performance in 2022. Carter will be the primary kick returner but should get some looks on offense, which in theory makes him an upgrade over the special teams-only Andre Roberts. However, if he can’t gain a foothold on offense, LA could look for a more versatile returner that can contribute in other ways.
Clapp will be a backup interior lineman tasked with manning the fort if injuries take their toll, but his guard/center versatility will be valuable. He’s a replacement-level player who essentially replaces Michael Schofield’s role on the offensive line. Just as Clapp replaced Schofield, we could see another versatile backup replace Clapp in 2023. But without a true backup center behind Corey Linsley, Clapp could stick on the roster beyond this season.
