Joey Bosa, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, is still unsigned by the San Diego Chargers.
At the heart of the dispute is two things: Offset language (Bosa wants it where if he gets cut he still gets full money from the Chargers and his new team) and the disbursement schedule of his projected $17 million signing bonus.
Bosa skipped the franchise's three-day minicamp last week as the contract dispute heated up. (By contrast, Darron Lee, the only other unsigned Ohio State draftee, did not skip any of the New York Jets' organized team activities.)
The Chargers, however, may want to come to terms as quarterback and offensive cornerstone Philip Rivers is already a fan of what he's glimpsed from Bosa's talents in previous OTAs the defensive end didn't skip.
From cbssports.com:
"And I know it's still a little early to say but I think we nailed that pick at No. 3 overall. Bringing in tight end Hunter Henry , a handful of other things. Matt Slauson , we signed late from the Chicago Bears at center, looks like he's penciled in there at center. So we're better."
Though 11W's resident film guru Jonathan Stephanson predicts Bosa will thrive in San Diego's 3-4 defense, others disagree and see Bosa as more of a 3-4 end.
But Bosa was the best player on the Chargers' board. According to Rivers, he's already shown his cache of weaponry on the practice field and in the film room:
"I think it's a little bit misleading when you see teams, are they a 4-3 or a 3-4 -- guys line up in so many different fronts. Our guys when we're in the 3-4 personnel, they're mostly in an under front, and he's been all over the place in these OTAs, we've used him everywhere. But John Pagano, he's in nickel and sub defenses over 70 percent of the time and that's where Joey is probably gonna fit in right there at the end. Shoot, I saw him on some college tape playing 3-technique in a 4-3. He's very versatile so I don't think that's an issue. I think [Chargers general manager] Tom Telesco's philosophy is just get good football players and we'll figure out where they go. We don't have to fit a certain, exact scheme, and I think Joey fits that mold."
Sounds like the Chargers have quite the ball player if they can ever get him on the field.
Given that he just earned the vocal support of the QB the Chargers signed to an $83.25 extension in 2015, it probably won't be long before San Diego compromises on the offset language and pays the man his money.
