EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Chargers made a significant roster move on Wednesday night, announcing the release of outside linebacker Joey Bosa.
Hitting the money part of this means that cutting Bosa frees up $25.3 million of cap room. If he was still on the roster, he was due a $12.5 million roster bonus next Wednesday.
It forced the Chargers to make the move.
Bosa’s Chargers tenure was best at times and worst at times. It was best when he played full seasons and sacked the opposing quarterback over ten times in a season, which he did four times. He had 72 career sacks, 343 tackles, 156 quarterback hits, and 87 tackles for loss in his nine seasons with the team.
The worst times were when he suffered injuries that hampered his seasons, such as in 2018, 2022, and 2023.
In 2024, Bosa played in 14 games, had five sacks and was voted to the Pro Bowl. However, it was the most games he had played since 2021, and injuries slowed him down.
He was the final first-round pick when they were still in San Diego. Coming in, he sacked the opposing quarterback 10.5 times and earned Rookie Defensive of the Year.
A true charger OG San Diego Bolt thank Joey ⚡️
— THE RANGER (@daiyan_henley11) March 6, 2025
All he wanted to do as a Charger was win, but unfortunately, he only won one playoff game in his tenure.
What is next for Bosa? There has always been chatter that he would love to play with his brother, Nick, in San Francisco. If the money is right, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh would benefit from having a Bosa on each side. If 2025 has taught us anything, it is to expect the unexpected, like John Cena turning heel. It is a different form of entertainment, but this reunion could happen.
On the Chargers side, they need pass rushing especially in a division with Patrick Mahomes, Bo Nix, and a Raiders quarterback to be named later.
Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz have expressed their desire to get Khalil Mack re-signed, but what will happen on the other side?
There is a young Tuli Tuipulotu who has shown promise but has yet to show consistency. There is Super Bowl LIX Champion Josh Sweat, Jets/Eagles headache Haason Reddick, Raiders Malcolm Koonce (he did miss 2024 with a knee injury), and Giants Azeez Ojulari, to name a few.
Harbaugh and Co. have a plan and now have over $90 million to spend to better a team that went 11-6 in 2024 and will face tougher challenges schedule-wise.