3 surprise cuts the Chargers could make this offseason

2. WR Mike Williams

Instead of just dipping our toes into possible surprise cuts for the Chargers, let’s go all the way into the deep end here. Such is life when a team’s balance sheet looks pretty good.

Williams is set to play on his fifth-year option in 2021, at $15.68 million. That’s the third-highest cap hit on the team right now, behind Joey Bosa and Keenan Allen. A contract extension is possible, if only to reduce that cap hit for this year. But Williams could just as easily choose to bet on himself, and hit the market next March when the salary cap should go back up.

Williams’ cap hit for 2021 would be the ninth-highest among NFL wide receivers. Of course No. 8 on that list is his teammate Allen, who is going into the first year of a four-year extension. But all that ultimately means is the Chargers currently have $31.38 million of what could be an $180 million cap (and may not be a lot more) allocated to their top two wide receivers.

Taking a weapon away from Herbert is not a great idea, particularly one with Williams’ size/speed skill set and youth (26 years old). But if it means being able to add other notable pieces, and re-signing Henry, he might be a sacrifice general manager Tom Telesco is willing to make. Someone might trade for Williams, absent a contract extension on that end to reduce that cap number, which would be a path to extracting value from him. But there’s a small (very small) chance the Chargers outright cut him. Surprising and unlikely? Definitely. Impossible? Hardly.