The Los Angeles Chargers enter the 2026 offseason with expectations rising after an 11-6 season under head coach Jim Harbaugh. Los Angeles reached the playoffs but saw its run end with a 16-3 Wild Card loss to the New England Patriots.
With quarterback Justin Herbert continuing to anchor the franchise, the Chargers are evaluating ways to strengthen the roster. A recent analysis suggests Los Angeles could reunite with a familiar defensive presence in free agency to reinforce its pass rush.
Los Angeles Chargers Linked to Free Agent Joey Bosa
PFSN NFL analyst Jacob Infante named Joey Bosa as a veteran pass rusher capable of drawing interest from teams seeking short-term production along the defensive front.
Infante wrote: “After nine seasons with the Chargers, Joey Bosa headed over to the Bills in 2025, and it paid off pretty well for him. He led the NFL with 5 forced fumbles, and his 47 pressures marked the most he’s had in a single season since 2021. He added 5 sacks to the mix, as well.
Injuries and age are the big concerns with Bosa. He’s missed 25 games over the last four seasons, and he hasn’t completed a full season since 2021. That could lead some to think he’s a regression candidate, but after his 2025 campaign, he should still be treated as a high-end stopgap starter.”
Bosa’s 2025 season in Buffalo marked his strongest production since 2021. The Buffalo Bills signed him to a one-year, $12.6 million deal last offseason, and the veteran responded by leading the league with 5 forced fumbles while finishing with 5 sacks and 47 pressures in 15 games.
The 30-year-old Bosa ranked 38th in PFSN’s Edge Impact Metric. Infante also estimates Bosa could command a contract worth roughly two years and $11.1 million per season.
Bosa and Khalil Mack Reunion Could Boost Chargers’ Pass Rush
The Chargers have already taken steps to stabilize their edge rush by bringing back Khalil Mack. The veteran recently agreed to a one-year, $18 million deal to remain in Los Angeles for the 2026 season.
Mack appeared in 12 games during the 2025 season after missing time with a dislocated elbow. He still produced 5.5 sacks, 6 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, and 4 forced fumbles.
Across his career, Mack has played in 179 games with 177 starts, totaling 113.0 sacks, 148 tackles for loss, and 196 quarterback hits. The former No. 5 overall pick built a reputation as an elite pass rusher with the Oakland Raiders, Chicago Bears, and Chargers.
A reunion with Bosa would recreate a pass-rushing tandem that previously anchored Los Angeles’ defense. Bosa spent nine seasons with the Chargers before joining Buffalo in 2025 and was a five-time Pro Bowler during his original stint with the franchise.
Bosa may now be best deployed in a rotational role, with his snaps carefully managed to maximize his pass-rushing impact. He logged over 560 defensive snaps last season, his highest total since 2021.
