The Los Angeles Chargers have released starter and former team captain defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day. This is the first significant roster move of the post-Tom Telesco era (unless you count adding Will Grier as an extra backup quarterback). It seemed quite likely that the 2024 Chargers roster would look rather different, but it seems that the front office has decided not to waste time getting started.
#Chargers announce they have waived DL and team captain Sebastian Joseph-Day.
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) December 22, 2023
Chargers Roster Rebuild Underway After Release of Sebastian Joseph-Day
First Domino to Fall
Joseph-Day was signed in 2022 to help a struggling run defense. In that capacity, he did fairly well. However, he seemed to be taking a step back this year; although he’d improved his quarterback pressuring noticeably (three sacks and a career-high 11 quarterback hits), he only had three tackles for a loss and was simply not making as much of an impact. Still, releasing a player who had been a team captain all year is a big deal.
It is little secret that Joseph-Day was brought in because he’d played with coach Brandon Staley before, and thus would easily fit into his defense. It is likely that his being connected so much with Staley is part of the reason why he ended up getting released – the team may looking to shave off a lot of the products of the Staley era. The revelation that Staley was playing favorites with “his guys” – whom Joseph-Day would have been one of – would seem to lend credence to that theory.
Regardless, it seems unlikely they would have cut him before the off-season without a reason. As of now, no particular reason has been given, but one can reasonably assume that he asked for his release. That may have been because he was unhappy about Staley being fired. At any rate, this move will save $7.5 million in cap in 2024.
Who Could Be Next?
If this move is any indication, plenty of players on the Chargers roster are going to be on the chopping block – and many of them will likely be “Staley’s guys.” There is also the fact that they are in cap hell next year – currently set to be $42 million over. Four players – Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Khalil Mack, and Joey Bosa – will be making over $30 million, and in all likelihood, at least two of them will be gone next year (even though none of them really fall into the category of “Staley’s guys”, having all predated Staley, save for Mack). The Chargers would more likely try to trade any of those rather than cut.
If anyone else is likely to get cut before the off-season, it’s Morgan Fox – another player that Staley brought in who he had worked with before. Cutting him would also save $3.5 million. Unless someone else really wants out that badly, it’s hard to see any other cuts happening before the off-season. Eric Kendricks is another possible off-season cut – that would save $6.5 million.
Also, these are not cuts, but several incoming free agents are now all but guaranteed to not be re-signed. Kenneth Murray and Austin Johnson are at the top of that list. Austin Ekeler is likely to walk as well – he appears to have slowed down, and he was already looking for a bigger contract earlier this year.
Cleaning House
It seems that the Chargers are poised to separate themselves from the Staley era as much as possible. Given that it ended far more disastrously than the last couple of hires, this makes a degree of sense – and considering the cap issues they will be facing, it makes sense to free up as much as they can so they can start a soft rebuild in earnest (“soft” because they still have their franchise quarterback and a small handful of other strong-to-elite pieces that are not going anywhere).
Sebastian Joseph-Day is the first roster move in that direction. There will be plenty more, though they may or may not be in-season. And not all of them may be related to cleansing the locker room of Staley’s shadow, since there is also the matter of cap space to clear up. There is also a lot that depends on who the new general manager and head coach hires are. But this Chargers roster will look very different in 2024, and we are beginning to see that unfold.
Main Photo: Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports
