Joe Hortiz knew he was going to be in for a rough first two months as general manager of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Considering the salary cap situation he inherited, Hortiz is hoping that doesn’t repeat itself.
“I don’t ever want to be in a situation like we were this year where you’re having to make hard decisions [about the salary cap],” Hortiz said on Thursday as he addressed moves made during the first week of free agency. “We had to make decisions with the idea of not just this year, but next year and the year after that, being conscious of the depth and the way we’re spending money into the future.”
The Chargers were nearly $30 million over the cap and had four players taking up nearly 40% of their cap room. As a result, linebackers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack agreed to restructured contracts while wide receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen are no longer on the roster.
Williams was released and signed with the New York Jets, while Allen was traded to the Chicago Bears after not agreeing to restructure.
“Yeah I knew who I was trading,” Hortiz said via the team’s official website. “He’s a very talented player and I respect him as a player, as a person. It’s difficult when you have to cut a player, trade a player, release a player.
“It’s always difficult for a player like him certainly, but it creates an opportunity for other players to step up,” Hortiz added. “Again, we’re not done building that room out, so we’re going to look to continue to add pieces to that room.
“I think when you’re talking about trading Keenan specifically, yeah, that’s not a decision you make with no acknowledgment of, ‘This is a talented player that can still compete.’”
Hortiz also said he approached Allen’s side with many options, including a contract extension, but was not able to reach an agreement. Allen was traded to the Bears for a fourth-round pick, ending his 11-season tenure with the club that drafted him in the third round in 2013.
Allen’s agent later responded on X:…
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Publish date : 2024-03-22 19:20:01
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