Joey Bosa ends ugly stalemate with Chargers, signs four-year deal

The stalemate between Joey Bosa and the San Diego Chargers is finally over, reports NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, who says the deal includes a $17 million signing bonus. He will, presumably, be ready for the team’s Week 1 game on 9/11 against the Kansas City Chiefs. “And for whatever fearless face the Chargers could muster after the game about the players they have, Bosa’s arrival will be welcomed with a sigh of relief”, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

The Chargers selected Bosa with the third pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, but the sides were unable to agree on how guarantees in his contract would be distributed.

The Chargers’ latest offer included paying 85 percent of the signing bonus by December, with the rest paid out in March. But Bosa was an outlier due to squabbling over his offset language and signing bonus. Had Bosa not signed a deal, he would’ve had to sit out the entire season, so signing a deal was in his best interest.

The two argued over offset language in his deal, as well as how much guaranteed money would be offered. A vicious and powerful pass rusher like Joey Bosa could easily help dig this defense out of the mud. “It’s so overly clear we had no choice”.

It seemed for a time, that a strained relationship between San Diego and Bosa was a very real possibility. This stuff is standard practice for draft picks this high; the Chargers have a team policy against it. However, the start to his National Football League career was far from amicable.

Bosa will be tasked with helping the Chargers bounce back after their worst season in 12 years, one that landed them in the top three for the first time since 2004.