Chargers’ Future Salary Cap, Draft Picks, FA Targets to Build Around Justin Herbert | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Free agency is very complicated for the Chargers, both because of their cap situation and Spanos’ history of not wanting to spend a lot of money if he can avoid it.

If the Cincinnati Bengals decide to let Tee Higgins walk in free agency, the Chargers should try to find a way to make it happen. He’ll turn 25 on Jan. 18 and had more than 900 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons.

But it’s probably not practical to think the Chargers are going to give Higgins a deal worth $25 million per year that it would probably cost to sign him.

If there’s one position the next general manager and head coach for the Chargers need to prioritize, it’s cornerback. We already talked about the disaster that was Jackson’s contract, but he’s hardly been the only problem.

Aidan O’Connell lit up the Los Angeles secondary on Thursday night with 248 yards and four touchdowns because his receivers frequently had no one around them.

Jaylon Johnson of the Chicago Bears is the best potential free-agent cornerback, though it would be a surprise if he isn’t given the franchise tag since they reportedly had a high asking price after giving him permission to explore trade opportunities before the Oct. 31 deadline.

L’Jarius Sneed, who has been a solid starter over the past three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, might be a more realistic option. Kendall Fuller, Chidobe Awuzie and Kenny Moore could also be available in free agency.

Stephon Gilmore is having a good season with the Dallas Cowboys and could be nice on a one-year deal since he will play most of next season at 34 years old, but he’s not a player who you build an entire cornerback room around at this point in his career.

There are also legitimate questions about how eager free agents will be to join the Chargers based on how their current players feel about the organization.

In a survey conducted by the NFLPA, the Chargers received grades of D-minus or worse in categories that include treatment of families, nutrition, training room and locker room. Their strength coaches (A-minus) and team travel (B) were the only categories they received positive marks.

Plus, there’s the problem of the Chargers feeling like they play 17 road games because SoFi Stadium is routinely covered in the colors for the opposing team.