Thoughts On Cutting Keenan Allen?

[DerwinBosa]

Henry's cap number last year and this year is $15 million. The 1st year of the deal was not a bad price ($6 mill), but he is not a $15 mill a year player. That is a bit steep for a guy who is not anywhere near as good as Kelce/Kittle/Waller/Godert/Andrews as a pass receiver and is not much better as a blocker (and not as good as he was for us). If you are suggesting that Henry is anywhere near the kind of replacement for Allen's production as a receiver, you are kidding yourself. He is a nice complimentary piece who priced himself out of LA. NE is paying (almost) top dollar for good but not great production. And we are the ones who had to endure his injury history, which NE has managed to miss.

As far as Wes Welker's replacement, NE had Edelman (105 catches in 2013, vs Welker's 118 in 2012) as a major weapon, and Danny Amendola, as well as Gronk. The big loss for NE offense that year was Aaron Hernandez, but you can hardly blame NE for cutting him lose, even at the loss of 2/3 of their catches at TE/Hback). They also had a pretty good RB by committee (Blount, Ridley and Vereen) and a much better D than we have.

We simply don't have a replacement on the roster for Allen. We have a bunch of guys who could step up, but really haven't taken the step up yet. This is not a strong WR draft, and our draft position to take an impact WR is not great. If we are going to add help it has to be at WR, but again FA is not a great place to look to add help. The top FA candidates, as usual, seem to be dominated by guys who are as old or older than Allen or guys who have very serious injury issues.

Also, if you look at the type of player, Welker was a quickness guy. Sure, he ran good routes and had good hands, but he was explosive because of his great quickness. That fades quickly with age when it starts to go, and it was starting to go with Welker. Allen is a route runner. Guys who win by their ability to run great routes are often productive later in their careers and have longer careers than say guys who are speed or quickness guys.

As far as Joseph, Harris and Bulaga, they are typical FA. Guys usually make it to the market because they are nearing the end of their careers, and a desperate team signs them. We were that team. The problem wasn't so much letting Henry go, but we simply have not had much success developing players since Marty was coaching the Chargers. We have had some success in the draft year of 1st year HC. Staley, McCoy and Lynn's best draft classes all came in the 1st year (unless you count the Herbert for Lynn), and the lack of sustained draft success has been the Chargers problem.

He is nowhere near Kelce, just like Allen isn't an elite receiver. But you can't say Henry is nowhere near the rest, since he's been with Mac Jones for the last two years, and played in an offense coordinated by Matt Patricia this past season. Henry with Herbert the last two years and beyond I have little doubt would have been just as productive as Hurts to Goedert.

We may not have what you consider a replacement for Allen on the roster, but he is nowhere near irreplaceable. He never has been, but especially at this point in his career he is not. This is evidenced by the reality that we won't be able to get anything for him in a trade.

If we do have a dropoff after Allen leaves I don't see it being that big of a deal, since I believe with the addition of Moore we will finally focus on building a strong running game to complement the quarterback, whether it's by drafting Bijan Robinson in the first or getting someone else in the second.

[ThatSinkingFeeling]

I must admit that as I am pretty new to American football, my ignorance is profound on this topic, but if the Chargers release Allen now does his entire cap hit come off the books? And can they cut practically any player they have on the roster? I understand the Chargers are way over the Cap and need to shed $23 million or so at the very least, so they will have cut at least one more big earner in addition to Allen (Bosa? Mack? James?) Is there a date where these cuts will have to be made?

[Boltjolt]

We had Hunter Henry, who's not Kelce but is certainly a very good pass-catching tight end. Telesco failed to keep him, choosing instead to spend the money on Bryan Bulaga, Chris Harris, and Linval Joseph (all in their thirties) instead.That was the mistake. Telesco doesn't need to compound it by holding onto Keenan Allen too long.

Ugh, now I need to pull my hair out. Keeping Bulaga,. . Hec signing him in the first place, I hated it.
He was very injury prone at Green Bay. Just happened to play 16 ganes his last season there.
Harris was past his prime. Lost a step or two.

Henry wasn't a stud but certainly was better than those two were at that point in their careers. He is under utilized by NE. Jonnu Smith they hardly use at all.

[richpjr]

I must admit that as I am pretty new to American football, my ignorance is profound on this topic, but if the Chargers release Allen now does his entire cap hit come off the books? And can they cut practically any player they have on the roster? I understand the Chargers are way over the Cap and need to shed $23 million or so at the very least, so they will have cut at least one more big earner in addition to Allen (Bosa? Mack? James?) Is there a date where these cuts will have to be made?

When a player is cut any guaranteed money as well as any roster bonus and prorated signing bonus money counts as a cap hit. In Allens case, his cap number this year is $21.7 million (salary plus prorated signing bonus plus roster bonus) and that is what we count if we keep him. If we cut him, he counts $6.9 million in dead cap money for his prorated signing bonus money, so we'd gain $14.8 million in free space.

[Boltjolt]

When a player is cut any guaranteed money as well as any roster bonus and prorated signing bonus money counts as a cap hit. In Allens case, his cap number this year is $21.7 million (salary plus prorated signing bonus plus roster bonus) and that is what we count if we keep him. If we cut him, he counts $6.9 million in dead cap money for his prorated signing bonus money, so we'd gain $14.8 million in free space.

Just came to me reading this.

Keenan's dead cap will be more than Staley's salary for next season.
So if Dean is willing to eat 6.9 million surely he could of paid Harbaugh and fired Staley for the collapse against Jax.

I realize we still need to make moves to get under the cap which will likely be more than Staley's 2 more seasons of 8 mil.

Just made me think ,hmmm.

[charger1_sj]

Did losing WR1 Tyreek Hill sink the 2023 Chiefs or did their later round draft picks at the skill position secure another world championship?



Did the Dallas Cowboys go in the tank on offense as predicted by the nattering nabobs of negativity when they lost OL La'el Collins, WR Amari Cooper, and WR Cedrick Wilson?



IMO, both KC and Dallas reloaded on offense and defense with excellent drafts and achieved playoff berths, both surpassing the previous seasons' results. Same story with Seattle. Built their lines first, then went to the playoffs.

KC brought in 3 other WRs through trade. Dallas needs a WR. Lamb is all they got. Getting rid of Amari cost them big time in the POs.

[wu-dai clan]

Kelce gets separation against everybody. Were you paying attention at all during yesterday's game or at any point during the postseason? And do you really think replacing Derwin James with a rookie is going to change that?

You also seem so certain that a rookie pass-rusher drafted by the Chargers in the twenties is going to be Micah Parsons or Von Miller. Uh, yeah, not very likely.

I believe the team would be better off keeping Derwin and Bosa and drafting Bijan Robinson in the first round.After investing first-round picks on Slater and Zion the last two years, along with seemingly finding a late-round gem in Salyer, it's time to put a dynamic running back who is capable of gaining 1,200 to 1,500 yards on the ground behind them. The only seasons we've had a good running game to complement the quarterback (Rivers) since LaDainian Tomlinson left were in 2013 and 2018, the only years we made the playoffs since 2009. Herbert hasn't had that since entering the NFL.

If you want to draft an edge rusher, that's great, but have him rotate in behind Bosa and Mack. You really think this team will go anywhere with a 32-year-old Mack, Chris Rumph, and a rookie?

It might just be...
-that I watch more games
-more closely than you
-for many more years
-with plenty of information

And come to different conclusions,
plus post with different motives, than you do.

That is healthy for this board,
in both of our cases.

[gzubeck]

We are overspending on aging big name talent. At this point in time I go into separate meetings with our big name players and ask them what they're willing to do and not do. If they're not willing to restructure I'm OK with cutting or trading anyone. I like to get rid of old growth forest for the young saplings coming thru.

[blueman]

KC brought in 3 other WRs through trade. Dallas needs a WR. Lamb is all they got. Getting rid of Amari cost them big time in the POs.

Flash forward to us ditching Allen, making the playoffs but missing his production next year. Unless we draft WR high and get lucky that we pick an immediate hit.

[Boltgang74]

This draft lucky for us is loaded with WR talent.Just sayin.Gotta rip the bandaid off at some point

[charger1_sj]

Flash forward to us ditching Allen, making the playoffs but missing his production next year. Unless we draft WR high and get lucky that we pick an immediate hit.

Whether Allen stays or not, we need another receiver. It could be a 1st round TE or 1st/2nd round WR. But the need is there. When one of Allen/MW were out
our passing game went down the tubes. Herbert can use more weapons in the passing game as well as a decent run game. 5 ypc to Eckler isn't going to cut it.

[21&500]

We are overspending on aging big name talent. At this point in time I go into separate meetings with our big name players and ask them what they're willing to do and not do. If they're not willing to restructure I'm OK with cutting or trading anyone. I like to get rid of old growth forest for the young saplings coming thru.

Agreed.
there is a way to do it, preferably through their agent and privately.
No ill will if X player tells us to kick rocks, they've earned their contract.
But it's time to tighten belts.