Joey Bosa is already connected to the 49ers, but the Rams should drive up his price
The Los Angeles Chargers released edge rusher Joey Bosa on Wednesday, a move long expected based on recent history and his inflated contract number in 2025. The immediate rumors floating around are that Bosa will join his brother Nick on the San Francisco 49ers roster, but should the L.A. Rams swoop in and inquire on his availability just in case?
Chargers released Joey Bosa.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 6, 2025
If the 49ers sign, Joey Bosa, they haven’t learned from their mistakes.
— Ryan G Hensley (@ryanghensley) March 6, 2025
The third overall pick in 2016, Bosa was Defensive Rookie of the Year and he posted 58 sacks and 73 tackles for a loss in his first six seasons with the Chargers. Bosa was a perennial Pro Bowl edge rusher who wasn’t “healthy” per se, but did have three complete seasons during that time.
That hasn’t been the case in the last three years, however.
Here’s what I wrote about Joey Bosa in my piece on defensive free agents. There’s still a talented player in there, but we haven’t seen him very often over the last few years https://t.co/YQk7y1CeJt pic.twitter.com/pfTkpyavlt
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) March 6, 2025
Bosa missed 12 games in 2022 and eight games in 2023.
Though he was a Pro Bowler in 2024, that is a sign of how low the bar is to make the Pro Bowl. Bosa played in 14 games last season and recorded five sacks with five tackles for a loss.
In total, Bosa has 14 sacks and 14 TFL in the last three seasons, averaging one sack per two games.
However, despite how long he’s been in the league, Bosa is still only 29.
Scheduled to make too much money in 2025, the Chargers had to release Bosa and make him a free agent. Though he won’t be the same player he once was, Bosa also won’t cost as much as he once cost.
By that measure, Joey Bosa may have his peak “NET VALUE” in 2025. Think of it like Chris Long when he went to the Patriots and Eagles after his career with the Rams. Long made only $2-$4 million per season in his last three seasons in the NFL, but he also won two Super Bowls because he was a great veteran presence for New England and Philadelphia’s defensive lines.
He didn’t do a lot, he did enough.
Could Bosa be that kind of presence for Jared Verse and Byron Young? Would he be even more motivated if he was facing his brother’s team twice per season and vying for the division championship instead of playing with him?
The 49ers feature Nick Bosa, Leonard Floyd, and Yetur Gross-Matos on the edges. If Bosa is taking a discount after making over $140 million in his career and chasing a Super Bowl, San Francisco could be getting a steal. If the Rams come in and offer a hair more with the chance to beat his brother, would it be a good move for L.A.?
Again, he’s 29, not 35.
Maybe it would be, maybe not. Kicking the tires and having a conversation with anybody who the 49ers want to sign would at least give the Rams the opportunity to do one thing: Drive up his price.
That couldn’t hurt, could it?
