The Los Angeles Chargers are stuck between a rock and a hard place. This team will always have a chance to compete as long as Justin Herbert is under center, but they’ll need to clear up some salary cap space. The team is currently $20.5 million over the allotted amount, and they might need to trade or release Keenan Allen or Mike Williams to become cap-compliant.
This isn’t the first time we’ve talked about the Chargers precarious salary cap situation, and there are other solutions beyond a Keenan Allen or Mike Williams trade. Edge rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack both carry significant cap hits, and parting ways with one or both veterans seems inevitable.
As of this posting, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams carry $34.7 million and $32.4 million cap hits, respectively. The Chargers can free up $23.1 million with a Keenan Allen trade or release, while moving on from Williams will clear $20 million in cap space.
With the legal tampering period starting today at noon, the Chargers will probably decide on the fates of these players within the next couple of hours. Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer reports the Chargers have had “exploratory talks” about a Keenan Allen and Mike Williams trade, so could these players be on new teams in 2024?
Chargers Looking To Trade Keenan Allen, Mike Williams
Right now, it appears as though at least one of the two receivers will not be back next year. Keenan Allen could probably fetch the most in a trade, as the 32-year-old receiver finished the 2023 season with 1,243 yards in 13 games. He can still play, and everyone is looking for receivers in today’s pass-happy NFL. Williams, meanwhile, has struggled to stay healthy but remains one of the league’s best contested catch receivers when on the field.
The biggest problem with a Keenan Allen trade is that the Chargers do not have a reliable Plan B without him. Quentin Johnston had a terrible rookie season, while Williams is a completely different type of player. If the team parts ways with Allen, they’ll be forced to take a receiver with their first-round pick.
Williams, however, should be easier for another team to acquire. The former first-round pick is not worth his bloated salary, especially when you factor in his injury history. Unlike Keenan Allen, it shouldn’t take too much to trade for Mike Williams – a seventh-round pick might even be enough to do it.
Possible Team Fits
Carolina Panthers
The one smart decision the Carolina Panthers made last year was signing an over-30 Adam Thielen. While players of his age are generally on the decline, smart teams can identify older veterans who still have a few years left in their tank. Keenan Allen fits this description to a tee, and the Panthers could trade for him and give Bryce Young a reliable weapon. Alternatively, Mike Williams would give this team the outside threat they so desperately needed last year.
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears have a legitimate star receiver in D.J. Moore, and they’re about to have a franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams. If they want to get the most out of the first-overall pick, then they’ll consider a trade for Keenan Allen or Mike Williams. With no real star power in free agency, these two are arguably the best options available for a team with a young quarterback.
New York Jets
Aaron Rodgers is a great quarterback but a terrible general manager, and the Jets are paying for his unofficial decisions. Allen Lazard was a massive bust, and Garrett Wilson is the only reliable option in the passing game. Acquiring Keenan Allen or Mike Williams via trade is a great way to bolster this roster, and New York doesn’t have time to develop a young receiver. Rodgers can’t have much more in his tank, so they need somebody who can help them win now.
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers have plenty of promising young wide receivers. However, what they don’t have is an experienced veteran capable of leading the group while still providing value on the field. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are both capable of filling this role, and the Packers can create the cap space to facilitate a trade by releasing David Bakhtiari.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chargers would never trade Keenan Allen or Mike Williams to a division rival like the Chiefs. However, if Los Angeles ends up releasing one of these players, then they should be on the next plane to Kansas City. The Chiefs need a wide receiver, and both Allen and Williams are more than capable of rounding out this depth chart. Head coach Andy Reid has plenty of firsthand experience with these two, so he should have no issue incorporating them into the offense.
Main Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck – USA Today Sports
