Amid Chargers’ $56M Dilemma for Justin Herbert, Joe Hortiz Breaks Silence on Losing Keenan Allen in Salary Cap Casualty

When Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz came to LA as the new head coach and general manager for the Los Angeles Chargers, they had to make big decisions to address the salary cap issue. Hortiz said, “We had four great players with great contracts in terms of great volume, great money.” However, given that the team was more than $20 million over the salary cap, seeing all four on the team wasn’t a realistic result in 2024. 

Before their arrival, they had four of the six non-QB players with the highest salaries: Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Mack Williams, and Keenan Allen. They addressed the issue by restructuring contracts with Bosa and Mack to a combined $34 million while releasing Williams and trading Allen, both of whom were acquired by the Chicago Bears. While speculation arose that the Chargers could make a move for the other players except Allen, everybody was shocked that he was traded. See what Hortiz has to say about that.

Joe Hortiz reveals why it was necessary to trade Keenan Allen

Joe Hortiz’s meeting with reporters at Hoag Performance Center on Thursday broke the silence behind their decision to trade their loyal explosive, WR Keenan Allen. In a post by Bolt Up Chargers, the Chargers’ new GM’s long-term vision was made evident as he addressed their need to be salary cap-conscious to remain flexible. He told reporters, “We’ve got a quarterback that makes a lot of money and that’s why you have to be cap conscious.” 

Justin Herbert signed the NFL’s richest deal with a 5-year $262.5 million contract extension till 2029. In 2024, the 26-year-old will receive a base salary of $6 million and a signing bonus of $50.6 million, which amounts to over $56 million in salary. Given this situation, the Chargers had to sacrifice by trading one of their high-value players, Allen, to the Bears.

Joe Hortiz’s emotions on trading Keenan Allen

When the Chargers announced their decision to trade Keenan Allen, it garnered the most attention among the four moves. The 6x Pro Bowler was traded to the Bears for a fourth-round pick. However, considering that he was a dedicated Chargers player who accounted for 904 catches and 10,530 yards in his career, it shocked everyone. And the decision hasn’t been easy for Hortiz either.

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Hortiz said of trading the Chargers’ longest-tenured player, “Yeah, I knew who I was trading… It’s difficult when you have to cut a player, trade a player, release a player… But it creates an opportunity for other players to step up.” As Hortiz puts it, the end of something leads to another beginning. And now that the Chargers are undergoing a major staff and players roster change, they could be in a different position than last season.

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