Joey Bosa is currently on the LA Chargers' cap sheet for a hit worth over $36 million in 2025. He has the largest cap hit of any EDGE player in the league. Amongst non-quarterbacks, Bosa's cap hit for 2025 is second highest to only Jets wide receiver Davante Adams.
With Bosa's elevated cap hit, durability concerns, and regression in recent years, he has become a textbook cap casualty candidate for the Chargers this offseason.
At a post-podium reporter scrum in Indianapolis, Joe Hortiz said it was "realistic" to potentially keep Bosa in 2025 despite his $36.4 million cap hit:
"I know he wants to retire a Charger," Hortiz said via ESPN's Kris Rhim. "I'd love for him to retire a Charger. I love Joey -- the teammate, the competitor."
Joe Hortiz says its realistic the Chargers keep Joey Bosa
Of course, it's important to not put too much stock into what NFL GMs are willing to say publicly about cut candidates or free-agent targets. Still, it does represent the first time Hortiz was asked about Bosa this offseason.
Bosa comes off of a 2024 season in which he battled a hip injury that gave him sciatic nerve pain and complications. While he technically played in 14 games, Bosa was snap limited and came out during games on a few occasions due to reaggravations. In Bosa's four seasons in which he's played more 12+ games, 503 defensive snaps in 2024 was the lowest snap count in any of those years.
When Bosa was healthy or close to it like he was in Weeks 1 and 2, he looked and produced like a different caliber of player. Bosa simply wasn't as efficient of a pass rusher or run defender after returning from his hip injury vs. New Orleans. The Chargers also had to manage his snaps for practically the remainder of the season.
Uncertainty around Bosa's return comes at a time for Los Angeles when they also are dealing with the prospect of Khalil Mack testing free agency. On that note, Hortiz said that the Chargers have had positive conversations with Mack. But he also acknowledged the reality that Mack may very well want to test the free agent market for the first time in his career.
The Chargers' EDGE room could look very different next year with Mack and Bosa's roster situations appearing tenuous. But at least publicly, Hortiz doesn't seem concerned about Bosa's 2025 cap hit. Whether or not that will hold up in March remains to be seen.