NFL rules required all teams to be under the $255.4 million salary cap by 4 p.m. EST today, and the Los Angeles Chargers were the one team that was significantly over that threshold and had some difficult decisions to make by the deadline.
The Chargers roster has four of the top 12 cap hits in the league in Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Joey Bosa, and Khalil Mack, so their way out of this mess was always obvious, albeit difficult.
Someone was getting the axe, and according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, wide receiver Mike Williams is the one on his way out, as the Chargers are releasing the seven-year veteran.
Sources: The #Chargers releasing WR Mike Williams, making him a free agent. Williams, on the books for a $32M cap hit, becomes a top FA WR available. pic.twitter.com/tiMhvOrqDb
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2024
Williams had a hefty $32 million cap hit and saved the Chargers $20 million against the cap, getting them under the threshold.
Williams was the Chargers’ No. 7 pick in the 2017 draft and put up 4,806 yards and 31 touchdowns in his seven years as a Charger.
He is coming off a disappointing injury-plagued 2023 season following a Week 3 torn ACL.
Williams appeared in just three games and amassed 249 yards and a touchdown.
His absence was noticeable, as the Chargers offense was left without its deep threat and most consistent red zone target on its way to a paltry 5-12 season.
Williams immediately becomes one of the biggest names in the wide receiver market along with Calvin Ridley, Marquise Brown, Odell Beckham Jr., Allen Robinson, and many more.
If the Chargers choose to do so, it’s not off the table that they could choose to make another cut or two in order to clear legitimate cap space, so keep an eye out for that in the coming days.
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