After being cut by the LA Chargers for salary cap reasons last offseason, Joey Bosa landed on his feet with the Buffalo Bills. Bosa started 15 games for the first time since 2021 and finished with five sacks and five forced fumbles in the year.
However, Bosa's production did not match the name value the Bills thought they were getting when they signed him. His impact was rather up and down and in classic Bosa fashion, he didn't do much in the NFL Playoffs other than have an outburst after losing to the Denver Broncos.
With Buffalo's firm Super Bowl aspirations, one would assume the team would be interested in bringing Bosa back in 2026. Well, instead, the Bills may have gone and upgraded instead. Buffalo signed former Pro Bowl edge rusher Bradley Chubb to a three-year deal, likely signaling the end of Bosa's tenure in Buffalo.
In fact, Bills fans have already accepted the reality that Bosa is likely leaving this offseason and are already circling potential teams he may sign with instead. Spoiler alert: it doesn't seem like those same Bills fans are remorseful that Bosa is likely to play elsewhere in 2026.
Chargers fans shouldn't be surprised Joey Bosa's Bills tenure lasted just one season
Bosa was a great player when he was at his best, but that isn't who he is anymore. Chargers fans saw firsthand the new version of Bosa for several years as he couldn't stay on the field and when he was on the field, he noticeably was not the same guy that he was before.
It's not like Buffalo is replacing Bosa with a guaranteed hit, either. Bradley Chubb has been injury-prone as well and the Bills are still willing to give him a three-year deal. The Bills are clearly betting on the younger of the two options and think they will be better for it.
The prediction now is that Bosa will land on the team that many expected last year, the San Francisco 49ers. Bosa could play with his brother Nick and would theoretically still be competing for a Super Bowl on a 49ers team that thinks it will contend next season.
The most interesting variable to watch is the pay. Bosa still likely thinks he is a premier edge rusher and is going to want to be paid as such. And as the Chargers know firsthand from his rookie season, Bosa isn't someone who is going to make concessions on his pay unless he has to.
But at this stage of his career, Bosa simply isn't that guy. If he were, the Bills would have simply brought him back. San Francisco, and any team that could theoretically be interested in Bosa, knows this is the reality. The real question is if Bosa himself can accept that reality.
Chargers fans have known about this reality for years. Now, Bills fans know too.