49ers Interested In Joey Bosa

The Chargers gave Joey Bosa a pay cut last year, but the sides did not work out another such arrangement. As a result, Bosa has become a high-profile free agent. As the Chargers already announced the cut, Bosa can sign before the legal tampering period begins.

One obvious suitor looms as an intriguing fit. A Bosa-Bosa defensive end tag team will be in play, as NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicates the 49ers will be an option for the older of the two Bosa standouts. While it will come down to price, ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner also notes San Francisco is interested in giving Nick Bosa the most familiar sidekick possible.

Injuries presented a constant concern for Joey Bosa with the Chargers; he has missed 23 games over the past three seasons. It is not like the former Chargers pass-rushing ace was injured every year, as he played 16 games 2017, 2019 and 2021, but he was often unavailable. That represents the main reason he is on the market as opposed to preparing for a 10th Bolts season. Now that Los Angeles made the 29-year-old EDGE available, Pro Football Talk Mike Florio points to a “frenzied” market emerging.

A five-time Pro Bowler, Joey Bosa was a top-three pick (No. 3 overall) three years before the 49ers took Nick Bosa second. He has not, however, earned a first- or second-team All-Pro slot like Nick has. Even if Joey Bosa is a high-second-tier pass rusher at this stage of his career, he adds a major piece to this year’s free agent market — one featuring some notable players (Josh Sweat and ex-Bosa teammate Khalil Mack) hunting for a third contract. Joey Bosa being four years younger than Mack will help his cause, even if the latter has been much healthier over the course of his career. Mack missed one game during his three Bolts seasons.

Joey Bosa has four double-digit sack seasons, but the last came in 2021. He would stand to, however, give Nick the best complementary edge player he has played with in the pros. The 49ers have both Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos under contract, but each came up as a release candidate recently. The team has tinkered with Nick Bosa’s supporting cast often during the star defender’s tenure, but no move has landed on the level a Joey Bosa addition would. We could have an answer on this reunion before free agency starts Monday.