On Wednesday, Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz proved they are not in full teardown mode by restructuring edge rusher Khalil Mack. On Thursday, they took it a step further.
The Chargers and edge rusher Joey Bosa have agreed to a restructured contract to keep Bosa in Los Angeles, a league source confirmed. Bosa has spent all eight of his NFL seasons with the Chargers, after he was drafted third overall in 2016.
He has two years remaining on his deal, and in all likelihood, the restructure will afford the Chargers some additional cap space as they move through the later stages of free agency. Even after releasing Mike Williams and agreeing to restructure with Mack on Wednesday, the Chargers were still up against the salary cap. The Bosa move should give them some more wiggle room.
Bosa had a $7 million roster bonus due if he was on the roster Friday, according to Over the Cap. So that deadline forced a move from the Chargers. At least one team had been inquiring about Bosa in a potential trade, according to a league source, but the Chargers ultimately decided to hang onto the 28-year-old pass rusher.
Live updates: Free-agent news from across the NFL
FA tracker: New teams and contract details for the top 150 free agents
Best available players: Who’s still on the market?
Grades: Best and worst of free-agent deals
Injuries have derailed Bosa’s past two seasons. He suffered a torn groin in Week 3 of 2022. He then had surgery to both fix that tear and clean up chronic issues in his core/abdominal area. Bosa did not return until Week 17. After returning from an extended layoff, Bosa spoke very encouragingly about his newfound health after the corrective suffer. He sounded relieved.
“I’m feeling better than I have in years,” Bosa said in late December 2022.
However, he strained his hamstring in the season opener in 2023. He broke his toe in Week 3 against the Vikings when he was stepped on. Bosa had healed and rediscovered his form against the run and as a pass rusher by Week 8. But then he suffered a foot sprain in the first quarter against the Packers in Week 11. Bosa did not play another snap all season.
With Bosa staying, the Chargers will now be able to roll out a fierce pass-rushing package that never fully materialized in 2023.
There is Mack, of course. Second-round pick Tuli Tuipulotu also emerged as a quality, complete player in his rookie season. Those three moving around the front in known-pass situations presented the Chargers’ best defensive combination in 2023.
Bosa, Mack and Tuipulotu were on the field together for 44 plays on the season. The Chargers had 10 sacks on those plays, according to TruMedia, all of them on third down.
Required reading
(Photo: Ryan Kang / Getty Images)