Defensive end and pass-rusher Joey Bosa has signed a five-year, $135 million extension with the Los Angeles Chargers. He still had one year left on his rookie contract, so this keeps him with the team for a total of six more years. The deal has $102 million in guarantees – a record for defensive players.
Chargers and DE Joey Bosa reached agreement on a 5-year, $135 million extension that ties him to LA the next six years, league sources tell ESPN. He had $78M fully guaranteed at signing and $102M guaranteed – a new NFL defensive record.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 29, 2020
Joey Bosa Signs Extension With Los Angeles Chargers
This is a big extension for the Chargers, as it helps them lock down one of their best players (and one of the league’s best pass-rushers) during a time when they have several contracts of big-name players expiring in the next two years. It’s also the first time the Chargers have dipped their toes into the mega-contract waters, as they haven’t given anybody a $100+ million deal before.
After missing the majority of 2018 due to injury, Bosa had a nice bounce-back season in 2019. He played all 16 games and finished with 67 combined tackles, 11.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. He had three games with multiple sacks, and garnered an AFC Defensive Player of the Week award after one of those performances in Week 8. His performance got him his second Pro Bowl berth.
After playing college football with Ohio State from 2013 to 2015 (and going All-American twice), he was drafted third overall in 2016 by the Chargers. After an initial contract dispute and early-season injury, Bosa came in and got 10.5 sacks in 12 games, getting him the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. 2017 was his best season thus far as he had 70 combined tackles, 12.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles – all career highs. He got his first Pro Bowl berth that year as well.
So far in his career, Bosa has 201 combined tackles (148 solo), 40 sacks, six forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He will be looking to rack up a lot more sacks in the years to come for the Chargers.
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