Chargers highly figure is likely concluding his NFL career, as indicated by recent contract adjustments pointing towards an..
Chargers center Corey Linsley is likely concluding his NFL career, as indicated by recent contract adjustments pointing towards an expected retirement announcement. Linsley has agreed to reduce his base salary for 2024 to the veteran’s minimum, creating $10.29 million in cap space for the Los Angeles team. This adjustment positions him to retire after June 1, enabling the Chargers to spread the remaining dead cap hit over a two-year span.
Having been limited to three games in the 2023 season due to a heart-related issue, Linsley confirmed last month that he is “99%” likely to retire later this offseason. The arrangement results in a $2.6 million dead cap charge for 2025, the final year of Linsley’s deal.
The 32-year-old, who played out his rookie contract with the Green Bay Packers, signed a three-year, $25.5 million deal with the Packers. Linsley continued to be one of the top centers in the game, leading to a lucrative five-year contract with the Chargers in 2021, averaging $12.5 million per year—a record for centers at that time.
In his debut season with the Chargers, Linsley earned second-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl nod. Although he managed to play 14 games the following year, his health issue resulted in significant missed time, impacting the Chargers’ offensive line performance, ranking last in PFF’s run-blocking grades for 2023.
While the recent contract adjustment clarifies the need to replace Linsley, the Chargers may face challenges in free agency due to salary cap constraints. Despite the additional spending power for this year, the team is among several projected to be well over the salary cap when the new league year begins. The draft could provide an option for an interior offensive lineman, with the Chargers holding the 37th overall pick, but no center prospects will be considered with their No. 5 selection.
