The Los Angeles Chargers have a number of needs across their defense this offseason.
Although they extended Teair Tart and added Dalvin Tomlinson in free agency, the interior of their defensive line could still use some depth. Their re-signing of Tony Jefferson has helped cement their secondary, but the departure of Benjamin St-Juste to the Green Bay Packers leaves them in need of another cornerback who they can fit into their scheme.
Even inside linebacker is a question mark given the athleticism that Denzel Perryman has lost over the past couple of seasons.
But their most pressing need lies in a third pass rusher to complement Tuli Tuipulotu and Khalil Mack. They learned the hard way last year that just a pair of viable edge rushers is not sufficient, and Odafe Oweh's departure to the Washington Commanders in free agency leaves a gaping hole in their defense.
With Joey Bosa still on the market, it seems as though a reunion could be in order. Los Angeles must resist that temptation at all costs.
Chargers' best route to an edge rusher is through the draft
The Chargers' pass rush didn't truly click in 2025 until they got their full trio of Tuipulotu, Mack, and Oweh activated. Between Weeks 10 and 17, when Mack returned from the arm injury that limited his time on the field last season, Los Angeles amassed 31 sacks.
With three pass-rushing threats available to them, the Chargers were able to leverage this combination to create straight-forward looks at the backfield for each of their edge rushers in tandem. Oweh is now gone, however, and Los Angeles needs to replace his role with a cheaper contract.
If Bosa's number ends up falling far enough, a reunion could therefore be tempting. The Chargers released Bosa at the conclusion of the 2024 season to avoid a massive cap hit, and he had a relatively productive (if inconsistent) campaign with the Buffalo Bills in 2025. Through 15 games, Bosa amassed five sacks, nine tackles for loss, and 16 QB hits.
The Chargers don't need to add another star edge rusher. But they do need someone who can consistently take advantage of the opportunities presented by their defensive scheme. Bosa, at this point in his career, is far too unreliable to take on that role.
Los Angeles must instead take a hard look at Day 2 of the draft, where players such as Zion Young, Romello Height, and Cashius Howell will likely be available. Bringing in a young edge rusher who can ultimately replace Mack's production when the time comes for his retirement is the smarter move in both the short-term and the long-term.