Tag: Joey Bosa

Chargers’ studs and duds from the 2024 season

The Chargers made the playoffs in the first season under Jim Harbaugh, which should set the stage for bigger expectations moving forward.

All things considered, it was a successful 2024 season for the Chargers. Jim Harbaugh’s first year with the squad went even better than expected, and the future is bright with this squad.

This team could be a few moves away from being legitimate contenders in 2025. Before we look ahead to the offseason more though, it’s time to look back at the studs and duds from this season.

Stud: DT Poona Ford

What a breakout season for the 29-year-old. The defense took a big step forward in 2024, and Ford’s addition was instrumental. In the regular season, the veteran racked up three sacks, eight tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits, his first career interception, and five pass deflections. Entering this season, he had four career pass deflections in six NFL seasons and he surpassed that number in 2024 alone. Ford was dominant in stopping the run and he’s a guy that the Chargers must re-sign this offseason.

Dud: Joey Bosa

Simply put, it was a disappointing season for the four-time Pro Bowler. Bosa recorded just 5.5 sacks in 14 games, the worst number in a season in which he’s played at least six games. He missed just three games this year, but it was clear that he wasn’t the same throughout the season. As a result, Bosa is a legitimate cap casualty candidate this offseason as the Chargers can save a lot of money by moving on from him.

Stud: WR Ladd McConkey

What a rookie season for the Georgia product. McConkey was even better than advertised and was able to eclipse the 100-yard mark an impressive four times. The playmaker finished with 82 catches, 1,149 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns on the year. McConkey established himself as the team’s best wideout and should have a bright future in Los Angeles

Dud: Asante Samuel Jr.

Injuries got the best of Samuel in 2024, which limited him to just four games. He was quite durable in his first three NFL seasons in which he played in 47 games. Even when he was healthy, Samuel wasn’t the same playmaker that we have become accustomed to. Now, his future in Los Angeles is up in the air as he’s scheduled to hit free agency. Not only may Samuel be a bit too pricey, but the Chargers have a few young corners that stepped up and played well this season.

Stud: OT Joe Alt

Why not highlight another rookie? The class looks to be a stellar one after one season, and these two have a lot to do with that. Alt was superb in his first NFL season, which helped the Chargers form one of the best offensive tackle duos in football. For all of the criticism on the team not taking a wideout with the fifth overall pick, Alt proved to be well worth it. Along with Rashawn Slater, this team is built to protect quarterback Justin Herbert for a long time and Alt is a big reason for that. The Notre Dame product was particularly exceptional in pass protection, which will be crucial to keeping Herbert healthy in the future.

Chargers boost pass rush in latest PFF mock draft

The Chargers could address the edge defender position early in this year’s draft.

The Chargers could revamp their edge defender group this offseason, with Khalil Mack’s contract expiring and Joey Bosa’s injuries still being an ongoing issue.

Los Angeles could address the positional room early in this year’s draft, which is how Pro Football Focus sees it in their latest projections with the selection of Marshall EDGE Mike Green at No. 22 overall.

Green would inject some youth into the Chargers’ edge room and is the only edge defender in college football over the past two years who earned 90.0-plus PFF grades as a pass-rusher and a run defender.

After transfering from Virginia, Green went on to lead the nation in sacks in 2024 (17). That type of pass rush production is what the Bolts need off the edge, as they finished 26th in pressure percentage (19.8).

At 6-foot-4 and 251 pounds, Green gets into the backfield consistently in a variety of ways, causing fits for opposing offensive tackles with speed, bend, and an arsenal of counters (arm-over, cross-chop, long arm, spin).

Chargers 2025 offseason preview: Pending free agents, cap space, team needs, draft picks

Examining the Chargers’ offseason, including team needs, pending free agents, and salary-cap space.

After finishing 11-6 and making the playoffs, the Chargers are in full offseason mode.

Los Angeles is still a couple of months away from the new league frenzy, but it’s not too early to look at what to expect then, starting with 27 players scheduled to be unrestricted free agents.

  1. CB Eli Apple
  2. OL Bradley Bozeman
  3. WR DJ Chark
  4. RB J.K. Dobbins
  5. LB Troy Dye
  6. TE Hayden Hurst
  7. WR Simi Fehoko
  8. DL Poona Ford
  9. DL Morgan Fox
  10. CB Kristian Fulton
  11. QB Taylor Heinicke
  12. OL Brenden Jaimes
  13. S Tony Jefferson
  14. EDGE Khalil Mack
  15. S Marcus Maye
  16. S Elijah Molden
  17. OL Sam Mustipher
  18. LB Nick Niemann
  19. WR Joshua Palmer
  20. LB Denzel Perryman
  21. LB Shaq Quarterman
  22. WR Jalen Reagor
  23. EDGE Chris Rumph II
  24. CB Asante Samuel, Jr.
  25. P JK Scott
  26. QB Easton Stick
  27. DL Teair Tart

Cap space

The Chargers have a projected $63 million in cap space, the sixth most among all NFL teams.

Team needs

Wide receiver

Time and time again, we saw Justin Herbert’s receivers drop crucial passes this season. Ladd McConkey is here to stay for the long term, and Quentin Johnston did show some improvements. With that, the Chargers still need a legit No. 1 playmaker on the outsider, like a Tee Higgins in free agency. Keenan Allen even teased that he would consider a return to Los Angeles. Regardless of who it is, the Chargers must get Herbert some help and it should be at the top of the priority list.

Tight end

Just behind the wide receiver position, the Chargers need tight end talent badly as well. Recent mock drafts have had Los Angeles using their first-round draft selection on a tight end. This year’s talent at the position was subpar in both the pass-catching and blocking departments. Don’t be surprised to see the front office add multiple tight ends this offseason.

Center

The offensive line is set at offensive tackle, but center was the clear weakness of this unit in 2024. Bradley Bozeman was brought in on a cheap deal, and it didn’t work out. He was regularly the weak link of the offensive line, and it’s time Los Angeles gets younger at this position.

Running back

J.K. Dobbins proved to be a good value pickup. But as we saw, his injury history is concerning. While he can’t be relied upon for an entire 17-game season, Dobbins could be a candidate to return on a short-term deal. Still, it would be wise to draft a running back in this year’s deep class or resort to the free agency pool to improve a rushing offense that ranked far below Jim Harbaugh’s standards.

Guard

Zion Johnson is sometimes inconsistent, but he will still be a starter on the left side in 2025. However, the team has a decision to make regarding his fifth-year option. On the right side, the team should seek reinforcements through the draft and free agency. Trey Pipkins was not good enough, particularly in pass protection.

Interior defensive line

Poona Ford is the big name to watch here, as he had a breakout season this year and is set to hit free agency. He was dominant on the inside, particularly in the run game. Even if Ford is brought back, this unit still needs some depth.

Cornerback

Kristian Fulton and Asante Samuel Jr. are set to become free agents, so the team must decide on those two first and foremost. Beyond that, Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still are in the plans after promising rookie seasons. The team will need depth, at minimum, at the position still. The front office may even consider getting a No. 1 corner in free agency if they lose Fulton and Samuel.

Edge defender

This is largely dependent on Khalil Mack’s fate. Mack will turn 34 in a little over a month. The veteran is coming off his third consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, and he was phenomenal under Jesse Minter this year. The team should do everything in its power to bring him back, but if they do lose him, this becomes a huge area of concern. Additionally, the team could cut ties with Joey Bosa, who has struggled with injuries.

Draft picks

The Chargers have the No. 22 overall selection and are projected to have ten total picks in the 2025 NFL draft.

Bleacher Report names Chargers’ 3 most likely cap casualties this offseason

It’s a huge offseason ahead for the Chargers, and that includes some decisions within its own roster.

We are at that point of the year when the offseason rumor mill gets fired up. The Chargers have a huge few months ahead of them to try and improve this roster to become legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

The front office will have some big decisions to make within the roster. With that, we will debate whether the Chargers should cut ties with the following players, all potential cap casualties Bleacher Report identified.

EDGE Joey Bosa

This is a controversial one. Bosa has established himself as one of the best Chargers defenders of all time. He’s made four Pro Bowls, yet the last of those appearances came back in 2021. He’s looked like a shell of his old self for three seasons now, and he’s combined to play just 28 games. Bosa combined for just 14 sacks in that timeframe, which is not worth the hefty $135 million contract he signed back in 2020.

In 14 appearances this season, the veteran had just five sacks, 13 quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles. At this point, it may be best for the Chargers to move on from him. Khalil Mack is a free agent on the other side, so that’s something to keep in mind. Losing both Mack and Bosa would be detrimental to this pass rush, but regardless, edge rusher is a huge long-term need for this team at this point.

RB Gus Edwards

Edwards’ first season in Los Angeles was disappointing. After a career-best 2023 campaign, he struggled to earn much of a role. Even when J.K. Dobbins fell with an injury, Edwards failed to step up. It was the worst season of his career in rushing yards (365) and yards per carry (3.6). It feels like a no-brainer to move on from him this offseason, which would save the Chargers $3.1 million. Running back remains a massive need for this team, but Edwards doesn’t have much of a future in Los Angeles.

OL Trey Pipkins

The Chargers have done a solid job fortifying their offensive line through the draft. Center and right guard remain the biggest weaknesses amongst the unit, the latter in which Pipkins resides. The Chargers would save $6.8 million by cutting, and quite frankly, he’s just not worth much of a contract at this point. Pipkins was inconsistent throughout this season, and the team could easily find his replacement for a much cheaper price through the draft or free agency. Amongst 135 qualifying offensive guards, Pipkins ranked 86th with a 57.8 overall grade in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus.

Joe Hortiz comments on Joey Bosa’s future with Chargers

The Chargers could benefit from cutting Joey Bosa.

There are a handful of Chargers players that the team will have to determine whether or not they will be back in Los Angeles next season.

Among the crop is edge defender Joey Bosa. Bosa has a cap hit of more than $36 million in 2025, according to Over The Cap. That’s a good chunk of money for someone who hasn’t quite proven their worth.

When asked about Bosa’s cap hit and future with the team, general manager Joe Hortiz said, “Those are the things we’re discussing right now.” Hortiz added that it is “possible” they keep him on his current cap hit.

There’s no denying the talent, but Bosa has struggled to stay on the field consistently over the past few seasons. And he has also yet to reach double-digit sacks since 2021, the last time he was named a Pro Bowler.

The Chargers can save over $25 million in cap space by cutting Bosa.

Bosa’s partner in the edge defender room, Khalil Mack, is considering retirement and will decide his future after discussing it with his family.

If Bosa and Mack are not members of the Chargers next season, addressing the position group will be a high priority this offseason.

Offense nowhere to be found in Chargers’ loss to Texans: Instant analysis of wild-card game

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ playoff loss to the Texans in a game that saw Justin Herbert have arguably the worst performance of his career.

The Chargers’ season has come to a close after losing to the Texans on Saturday.

Here’s our recap of Los Angeles’ 32-12 loss to Houston.

It was over when…

Justin Herbert’s pass intended for Ladd McConkey was picked off by Eric Murray and taken back for a touchdown to extend the Texans’ lead to two scores late in the third quarter.

Notable number

Herbert is the first player in NFL history to throw more interceptions in a playoff game than in the regular season, according to ESPN’s Kris Rhim. He threw four tonight and only threw three all year.

3 stars of the game

  1. WR Ladd McConkey: 9 catches, 197 yards, touchdown
  2. EDGE Khalil Mack: 2 sacks
  3. CB Deane Leonard: Interception

Quick hits

  • This was arguably the worst game of Herbert’s career, crumbling with the world watching him. He finished 14-32 (43.8%), the worst completion percentage in a playoff game by a Charger since Philip Rivers in 2006, and tied for third worst in franchise history, per ESPN’s Kris Rhim.
  • Herbert had never thrown more than two interceptions in a game in his entire career.
  • The Chargers’ offense was lifeless the entire game. The Texans pressured Herbert 19 times and sacked him four times. There were too many dropped passes. The running game was nonexistent.
  • The Chargers’ defense forced three turnovers, but the offense only turned those takeaways into three points.
  • Los Angeles averaged just 2.8 yards per rush. The Texans dominated at the line of scrimmage, giving the Chargers no rushing lanes.
  • McConkey was the leading receiver with nine catches for 197 yards. The next on the list was Will Dissly, who had two receptions for 16 yards. Quentin Johnston had five targets but failed to record a catch.
  • Los Angeles finished 3-of-11 on third down. They held Houston to 5-of-14 on third down but allowed them to convert on both fourth-down attempts.
  • The momentum shift came late in the second quarter, deep in Texans territory when Stroud fumbled the snap but recovered and found a wide-open Xavier Hutchinson in the middle of the field for a 34-yard gain because of a busted coverage. Houston scored and went on to put up 23 unanswered points.

What’s next?

The Chargers finished the 2024 season with an 11-7 record and a playoff spot in Jim Harbaugh’s first year as head coach. They enter the offseason with plenty of positional needs at running back, wide receiver, tight end, interior offensive line, edge defender and interior defensive line.

Statistical Breakdown: How the Chargers and Texans stack up before wild-card playoff game

The Texans have struggled at keeping their quarterback clean, but they’ve also generated a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks

The Chargers and Texans are set to square off this Saturday, with both teams looking to advance to the divisional round.

Here’s how Los Angeles and Houston stack up statistically on both sides of the ball ahead of the wild-card matchup:

Offense

Category Chargers Texans
Points per game 23.6 ppg (11th) 21.9 ppg (19th)
Passing offense 213.5 ypg (19th) 207.4 ypg (21st)
Rushing offense 110.7 ypg (17th) 112.3 ypg (15th)
Total offense 324.2 ypg (20th) 319.7 ypg (22nd)
3rd down conversions 40.27% (11th) 37.66% (20th)
Red zone scoring 56.00% (18th) 49.12% (26th)
Sacks allowed 44 (19th) 54 (29th)
Turnovers 9 (2nd) 19 (12th)

Defense

Category Chargers Texans
Points allowed 17.7 ppg (1st) 21.9 ppg (14th)
Passing defense 206.9 ypg (7th) 201.0 ypg (6th)
Rushing defense 117.5 ypg (14th) 114.0 ypg (11th)
Total defense 324.4 ypg (11th) 315.0 ypg (6th)
3rd down conversions 35.71% (5th) 35.91% (7th)
Red zone defense 45.00% (1st) 63.64% (27th)
Sacks 46 (6th) 49 (4th)
Takeaways 21 (13th) 29 (5th)

 

Will the Chargers rest their starters vs. Raiders in Week 18?

The Chargers have fallen victim to losing a key starter in a Week 18 game when they already secured a spot in the playoffs.

The Chargers are locked in with a playoff berth, with one game remaining in the regular season against the Raiders this Sunday.

With a playoff spot already secured, the question now becomes whether or not Los Angeles will play its starters with the hope of no one getting hurt.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh was asked about resting starters on the “Let’s Go Podcast” this past week, potentially hinting that he will play them.

“We’re going to be playing to win at all times,” Harbaugh responded. “That never changes. I like what Derwin James said, he’s our captain… He said, 11 wins sounds better than 10. So we’re, we’re attacking it.”

“We’re attacking it with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind. The thing that doesn’t resonate right now is, you know, play the backups. What are we going to do? Dress 25 guys for the game?” he added.

Harbaugh and the rest of the team will have their eyes on the TV on Saturday, watching to see how the game between the Steelers and Bengals goes.

If Pittsburgh loses to Cincinnati, L.A. must beat Las Vegas to secure the fifth seed. However, if the Steelers win, the Chargers will be locked into the sixth seed.

The Chargers have fallen victim to losing a key starter in a Week 18 game when they already had a spot in the playoffs. Two years ago, Mike Williams suffered a low back injury that forced him to miss the postseason.

However, the consequences of resting the starters could be not getting live-game reps and potentially causing them to feel rusty from the extra rest time.

“I think going into the playoffs, it’s important to not get rusty,” edge defender Joey Bosa said. “Obviously I feel like I’m still really working back for my injury and have a lot to continue to improve.”

We will have to wait to see how Harbaugh approaches this game and what he does with the starters.

Where the Chargers rank statistically ahead of Week 18

The Chargers have found a spark offensively while continuing to boast one of the league’s top defenses.

The Chargers head into the regular season finale on Sunday with a 10-6 record and a spot in the playoffs locked up.

Los Angeles has found its spark on the offensive side of the ball in recent weeks while continuing to boast one of the league’s best defenses.

With Week 18 coming up, how do the Bolts compare to the rest of the NFL? Here is where Los Angeles ranks:

Offense

Category Stat Rank
Points per game 23.0 ppg 12th
Passing offense 205.8 ypg 21st
Rushing offense 109.1 ypg 18th
Total offense 314.9 ypg 23rd
3rd down conversions 39.61% 14th
Red zone scoring 56.82% 16th
Sacks allowed 43 19th
Turnovers 9 2nd

Defense

Category Stat Rank
Points allowed 17.6 ppg 1st
Passing defense 205.8 ypg 8th
Rushing defense 122.4 ypg 16th
Total defense 328.1 ypg 12th
3rd down conversions 36.28% 9th
Red zone defense 44.74% 1st
Sacks 46 6th
Takeaways 20 13th

 

Chargers dominate Patriots to clinch playoff berth: Instant analysis of Week 17 win

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ win over the Patriots in a game that saw Justin Herbert toss three touchdowns and make NFL history.

The Chargers are heading to the playoffs after their win over the Patriots on Saturday afternoon.

Here’s our recap of Los Angeles’ 40-7 win over New England.

It was over when…

Justin Herbert hit Ladd McConkey for a 40-yard touchdown to go up 27-7 in the third quarter.

Notable number

Justin Herbert broke Peyton Manning’s NFL record for most passing yards in a player’s first five seasons (20,618).

3 stars of the game

  1. QB Justin Herbert: 283 passing yards, 3 touchdowns
  2. RB J.K. Dobbins: 19 carries, 76 yards, TD
  3. WR Ladd McConkey: 8 catches, 94 yards, 2 TDs

Quick hits

  • The Chargers are in the playoffs for the third time in 11 seasons.
  • The Chargers’ offense spent most of the game on the field, dominating the time of possession battle, 40:34 to 19:26.
  • The offensive line kept Justin Herbert upright for the entire game, and he took advantage of the clean pockets. When kept clean, Herbert had an 80% adjusted completion percentage with 247 passing yards and three touchdowns.
  • Herbert’s top target was Ladd McConkey, who surpassed Keenan Allen for most receiving yards and receptions by a Chargers rookie. Quentin Johnston finished second in receiving with five catches for 48 yards. Joshua Palmer was next with four grabs for 41 yards.
  • The offense benefited from J.K. Dobbins’ return from injury. Dobbins averaged 4.0 yards per carry and found the end zone. He also set a new season high in rushing yards, shattering his previous best (800) in his rookie campaign.
  • Jesse Minter’s defense made life difficult for rookie Drake Maye. Maye was sacked four times and was held to 112 passing yards on 22 attempts.
  • New England went 2-of-10 on third down and failed to make it to the red zone.
  • Derius Davis had a punt return touchdown, but it was negated by a holding penalty.

What’s next?

The Chargers close out the regular season on the road against the Raiders next Sunday, Jan. 5. The kickoff time is to be determined.