Joey Bosa was a man amongst boys during his time at Ohio State. I hadn’t seen a defensive end so quick yet disruptive in college. Watching him told me he was the most pro ready d-end I’ve seen in a while. Some are always a work in progress. However, he had the complete package. In 2016, he was selected with third overall pick in the NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers. Since arriving, he’s been a very productive force for the Chargers defense. Tonight, he’s being rewarded with a contract extension. A five-year deal worth $135 Million. $102 Million guaranteed which is a record for a defensive player.
Although he’s been limited to injuries early on, you can’t deny his impact when he’s healthy. The one thing I always notice about him is how fluent he is with his pass rushing. Standing tall at 6’5, he’s a long strider off the snap of the football. When you watch Joey, everything just looks natural. It never appears as if he’s trying too hard to get up the field. He’s very smooth in his movements. Another way to put it, he makes it look effortless. I’ve seen Joey start with a pure bullrush then hit the blocker with a quick swat to get to his destination. As a pass rusher, he has some of the cleanest hand combinations. You take his scrappy hands, mixed with his speed and his determination, that’s a football player you want to play with, not against.
Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa when healthy are the best pass rushing tandem in the league. He’s not just a pass rusher. Joey doesn’t mind going after a running back on screens to make the tackle. The Chargers signed him under contract until the 2025 season. A well-deserved deal.
