LOS ANGELES — The Chargers launched exterior linebacker Joey Bosa on Wednesday evening, chopping ties with their longest-tenured participant and among the best in franchise historical past.
The transfer saves them $25.36 million in cap area.
Bosa, 29, was chosen by the Chargers with the No. 3 decide within the 2016 draft. His 72 profession sacks rank second in franchise historical past behind Leslie O’Neal (105.5).
Bosa was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the 12 months in 2016 after posting 10.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. He rapidly emerged as one of many league’s greatest edge rushers, making 4 Professional Bowls in his first six seasons. He set an NFL file with 19 sacks in his first 20 video games.
The Chargers rewarded Bosa with a five-year, $135 million contract extension in 2020, a deal that on the time was the richest for a defensive participant in NFL historical past. However accidents have plagued him since; he has performed in simply 28 video games over the previous three seasons.
Nonetheless, Bosa was chosen to his fifth Professional Bowl in 2024, albeit as an alternate, and his 14 video games performed had been his most since 2021. When wholesome, he has remained an efficient move rusher; within the Chargers’ playoff loss to the Houston Texans in January, he had a team-high six pressures and one sack.
Bosa made it clear all through the season that he needed to be a Charger for all times, and he took a pay minimize final offseason to stick with the crew. Nonetheless, he was projected to have a $36.4 million cap hit in 2025, which at all times appeared untenable for the Chargers, who together with his launch now have $90.6 million in cap area.
Now, Bosa will navigate free company for the primary time in his profession. Earlier within the offseason, he mentioned the potential of taking part in together with his youthful brother Nick, a five-time Professional Bowl edge rusher with the San Francisco 49ers.
“It might be cool in some unspecified time in the future,” Bosa mentioned. “I at all times considered myself being any individual that can play right here and retire right here, which I believe not many individuals do on one crew, and I believe it might be a cool factor to perform, however you by no means know.”
