The Los Angeles Chargers re-signed Joey Bosa to a five-year, $135 million extension.
With this extension of Joey Bosa, the Los Angeles Chargers now have the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. Granted, that record seems to be broken every few months, but that’s the reality we’re in right now. “Resetting the market” is the hot trend in the streets for this concept.
Now, while some may gasp at the total and salary implications, Bosa is currently getting more guaranteed money than 20 NFL teams are paying their entire starting defensive lines. But at the end of the day, this move was necessary.
For starters, Bosa has already held out once in before his rookie year, so that’s one less potential headache for now. Secondly, and most importantly, Joey Bosa is a stud, plain and simple.
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Of course, little brother Nick Bosa is getting all the shine lately since he is the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year while making his debut on the annual Top 100 list on NFL Network at No. 17 (Joey was No. 34). It also helps that Nick’s team went to the Super Bowl. Due to this, it’s easy to forget that Joey was the Defensive Rookie of the Year after the 2016 season. Nick also had 9.0 sacks last season while Joey had 11.5, for what it’s worth.
Joey Bosa gives the Los Angeles Chargers a stud building block.
As previously mentioned, Bosa is an incredible pass-rush talent, which isn’t exactly easy to come by. In the NFL, the quarterback is obviously the most important position. After that, left tackle — or offensive line in general – followed by pass rushers and cornerbacks. If a team is solid at those positions, they’re in good shape. It’s why these positions get the big bucks.
Nick Bosa and the San Francisco 49ers got to a Super Bowl on the strength of their pass rush last year and the Philadelphia Eagles won a Super Bowl three seasons ago thanks to theirs. The proof is in the pudding.
Simply put, if you have a great pass-rusher at your disposal, do whatever you can to hold onto them. It can only help in the long run and now the dynamic duo of Bosa and Melvin Ingram can continue to wreak havoc in opposing backfields.
This is especially important and prudent in a division with Patrick Mahomes and the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos loading up on offense. There are also those Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson fellows elsewhere in the AFC.
Granted, there is the injury history with Bosa. If he can stay on the field though, as he did last season, this is a huge win for the Chargers. They have a loaded roster with their (hopeful) quarterback of the future in Justin Herbert and just about as solid a bridge quarterback you can get in Tyrod Taylor.
The contract extension of Joey Bosa is a big step in the Chargers getting back to becoming contenders in an increasingly competitive conference, and division.