Joey Bosa Takes Next Step Towards 2017 NFL Draft
By Erik Lambert
The San Diego Chargers haven’t been able to make progress with 3rd overall pick Joey Bosa in contract negotiations, and their time is shrinking.
It’s become clear that the two sides are not going to budge in their respective stances. Still, the Chargers decided to make one last push in hopes of bringing a player they thought could become a key to their defense on board. Word is they upped their offer in hopes it would be enough to convince Bosa to finally end his holdout. Suffice to say the attempt fell on deaf ears. This latest setback not only continues to rob the team of a key contributor for 2016, but may end up costing them entirely.
Statement from the San Diego Chargers on defensive end Joey Bosa. pic.twitter.com/BayBGeN22x
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 24, 2016
There is no doubt the Chargers brass are upset about the situation, but they also have to be feeling the heat from outside sources on finding a way to get a deal done. One thing that people are coming to understand about the Bosa situation is that he has leverage in the long-term. If he were to sit out the entire season, money concerns aside, the Chargers would relinquish ownership of his contract rights at the start of the next league year. That would make him eligible to enter the 2017 NFL draft.
Bosa will be fine. He'll be a high pick again. All the Chargers get out of this is losing the third pick. https://t.co/KVb5RvgK1X
— Frank Schwab (@YahooSchwab) August 24, 2016
One can imagine the firestorm of criticism San Diego would come under if they threw away the #3 overall pick in the draft on a guy who would not end up playing a single down for them. Joey Bosa has time on his side. He’s only 21-years old and will be 22 by the start of the next draft. Still young for a rookie and no less talented than he is right now. Odds are he’ll be a 1st round pick again.
Next: Joey Bosa Situation Not an Unheard Tale
Meanwhile the San Diego Chargers will be left holding the bag. One can understand their desire to save money however possible. Given their ongoing problems with funding a new stadium, these penny-pinching ways can’t be a surprise.
Still there comes a time when a team just has to bite the bullet and pay a man what he wants. Opportunities to trade him are long gone. So they are down to two choices: open the wallets or risk letting him becoming one of the most wasted draft picks in franchise history.