Chargers, Joey Bosa agree on extension; 5 years, $135M, sources say

ByLindsey Thiry ESPN logo
Wednesday, July 29, 2020

The Chargers and defensive end Joey Bosa reached an agreement on an extension Tuesday, with league sources telling ESPN's Adam Schefter it's a five-year, $135 million deal that will keep Bosa in Los Angeles for the next six seasons.

Sources said the deal includes $78 million guaranteed at signing and $102 million guaranteed, a record for a defensive player. The Chargers announced the agreement but not the terms.

Bosa's extension also amounts to the largest contract ever awarded by the Chargers and is the first contract to reach $100 million in franchise history.

Bosa reported to training camp Tuesday but, in a short video published by the Chargers, displayed no hints that a deal was close and said only, "I made it," as he walked by the camera.

The third overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, Bosa is entering the final season of his rookie contract. He is scheduled to earn $14.4 million.

On Monday, the day before veteran players were scheduled to report to camp, Chargers general manager Tom Telesco provided few details when asked about Bosa's contract situation.

"I'm hoping we'll have 86 healthy players," Telesco said when asked if he expected Bosa to report or hold out.

When asked again, specifically about Bosa's contract, Telesco said, "I just don't really have any comments on contracts."

Telesco did say, however, that the Chargers are in solid salary-cap shape despite the probability that the cap will drop in 2021 because of financial fallout caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The NFL and NFL Players Association recently agreed to a $175 million salary-cap floor next season.

"We're set up pretty well looking into the future, even though we do have players that we still would like to extend," Telesco said. "We're going to be just fine and be able to do what we want to do."

Bosa's deal comes less than two weeks after Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett signed a then-record-setting extension that included $100 million in guarantees.

Bosa's contract also tops those ofChicago Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack and Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who signed deals that included $90 million and $86.9 million in guarantees, respectively, before the 2018 season.

Bosa, who turned 25 this month, has been dominant since entering the NFL. He has averaged 0.8 sacks per game, which ranks fourth in the league behind Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones, Donald and Garrett, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

Bosa also has produced multiple sacks in nine games, which ranks fourth behind Donald, Jones and New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan.

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