The Los Angeles Chargers have made a huge move ahead of the start of the free-agent signing period. On Wednesday evening, the team decided to release former first-round pick Joey Bosa.
The move adds $25.3 million to the team’s salary cap space, which will be one of the highest in the league when free agency starts with the beginning of the new league year on March 12. But it also ends the nine-year tenure of the man who ranks second in the team history in sacks with 72.
In recent years, health has been an issue for Bosa. He was able to play in just 28 of 50 regular season games over the last three years. The Chargers may now have the ability to bring Khalil Mack back for another season.
The move puts the Chargers at $90.6 million in available cap space, according to Over the Cap. Only the Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots have more to spend.
That could be huge for a team looking to become a Super Bowl contender this coming season. But the focus, at least as far as in-house free agents are concerned, will be placed on Mack.
Mack contemplated retirement briefly this offseason before saying he will be back in 2025. But there’s no guarantee that will be with the Chargers. There have been rumors out there that he is interested in re-joining the Chicago Bears, a team he spent four seasons with before being traded to L.A.
The Chargers had low chances of keeping both Bosa and Mack in 2025. This was the right move to make as it gives the team a chance to bring Mack back and if not, the team can still be a major player in this year’s free-agent market.
Bosa leaves the Chargers having played in 107 games. He racked up 72 sacks and made 343 tackles along with forcing 17 fumbles. Only Leslie O’Neal sits higher on the team’s all-time sack list. He was drafted with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
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