Joey Bosa‘s practically decade-long stint with the Chargers could also be coming to an finish. Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post believes the group will look to maneuver on from their defensive star, whereas multiple sources told ESPN’s Dan Graziano that they count on the Chargers to chop the cross rusher.
While the front office would surely rather keep Bosa or get something in return for the five-time Pro Bowler, the untenable financial commitment makes the player a prime cut candidate. Bosa is attached to a massive $36.47M cap hit next season, the highest at his position. The team could save $25.36M by cutting or trading the veteran, an option that may be too enticing to deny (even with the Chargers armed with the sixth-most effective cap space in the NFL).
That $25.36M savings also represents Bosa’s true earnings for the upcoming 2025 campaign, although none of that is guaranteed. As Graziano notes, the pass rusher is due a $12.36M roster bonus in March, so the Chargers will surely look to make a decision on Bosa’s future before the bonus is due.
Bosa has continued to be productive when he’s on the field. Unfortunately, he’s rarely made it through a season unscathed. After being limited to 14 games before the 2022 and 2023 campaign, Bosa did manage to get into 14 games this past season, finishing with five sacks and 13 QB hits. Still, with only two fully healthy seasons on his resume, any suitors would have to account for Bosa missing at least a handful of contests in 2025.
While the two sides could go back to the negotiating table, Bosa already gave up some money last offseason. Still attached to the five-year, $135M contract he inked in 2020, Bosa reworked his deal in 2024, saving the Chargers more than $10M on his projected $32M cap hit. The front office could once again try to convert some of his salary into bonuses, but they’d still be committed to a healthy cap charge either way.
On the flip side, Graziano notes that the Chargers may have no choice but to hang on to Bosa for at least one more season. That’s because Khalil Mack is hitting free company, and the group is prohibited from slapping the star edge rusher with the franchise tag. If Mack is destined to depart Los Angeles, the entrance workplace could need to retain some semblance of continuity on the sting.
