From Daniel Popper a few minutes ago:
I got a few questions about Joey Bosa’s potential contract extension, so we will start there. The situation has very clearly changed since my previous mailbag last month, as Mr. BLOBMAN alludes to. And his analysis is very on point. First, let’s lay out the context. And then we can get into how this all affects Bosa and the Chargers.
Last week, the Browns and Myles Garrett agreed to a five-year, $125 million extension. The contract reportedly includes $100 million in guarantees. That means Garrett is the highest paid non-quarterback in terms of both average annual value — $25 million — and guaranteed money. The reported guarantees edged out Khalil Mack’s extension by $10 million. This is important because Garrett, of course, plays the same position as Bosa as an edge rusher. And NFL contracts — especially for players of Bosa’s caliber — are typically negotiated relative to other existing contracts for players at the same position.
As I wrote in last month’s mailbag, extensions are particularly difficult to get done amid the current economic climate. The 2021 salary cap will drop. No one knows exactly how much it will drop, because teams’ revenue losses, primarily from empty stadiums, won’t become clear until the season happens. That uncertainty will make it harder for teams to commit money and future cap space. That fact hasn’t changed. It’s the main reason why Hunter Henry will be playing this season on the franchise tag. But some teams were obviously able to get deals done in the face of that uncertainty. Garrett is one. The Chiefs also signed Patrick Mahomes to a landmark extension, and followed that up by extending defensive tackle Chris Jones.
Exactly. Why say "teams are having trouble signing players because of covid environment" when clearly they are not. I think almost every new contract is done, including Dak Prescott getting the Tag. Oh, trying to carry the water a little bit so you still get team access as a reporter. Got it. Sorry, its early in the morning and it can take me 2 seconds to see right through you.Before Garrett’s extension, there wasn’t really a blueprint for Bosa and the Chargers to work off.
Yes there was. Mack and Jones. Then the Browns lost their damn minds with Garrett. Telesco ordered Xanax when he saw Garrett's contract. Other contracts, like Mack’s, would be useful in a normal scenario. But this is an entirely different landscape.
Now, though, there is an indicator for what an elite edge rusher’s value is in the age of COVID-19. And that is why the situation has changed so much for Bosa in the last week.
Bosa has put up historic numbers through his first four seasons. He is only the 11th player since 1982 — when the NFL started keeping sacks as an official stat — to total 40 sacks through his first 51 games. (Former Charger Shawne Merriman is also on the list, with 43.5 sacks through his first 51 games.) Garrett needs 9.5 sacks through his next 14 games to join the list. Bosa had 29.5 sacks through his first 37 games. Garrett has 30.5. The similarities in production are crucial here.
I don't have to go around the world for comparisons to negotiate with Joey Bosa: "Hey Joey, you're not even the best defensive player in your own backyard during family barbeque's. Your brother is. Sign this shit before I steal Nick Bosa from San Fran." Be glad your not signing THAT extension. It could be over 200 million and you can just leave the team's private jet in the Bosa driveway.If and when Bosa’s camp comes to the negotiating table, they would be smart to start the conversations with Garrett’s extension. I can’t imagine Bosa would agree to anything less than what Garrett agreed to.
Bosa's agent will be wearing a shirt with Garrett's picture on it at negotiations. He probably told Joey to go hit Tyrod Taylor in the head with his own helmet. Seems to be the path to 125 million dollars.
The Browns are not the Chargers, however. This organization has a very public history of some rather tenuous contract negotiations, including with Bosa on his rookie deal.
Please be braver when you report. Telesco low balls the living hell out of contracts. Its not that hard to write the truth. Telesco might literally go play defensive end before he gives someone 125 million dollars. That stance and approach likely won’t change with added uncertainty.
I wrote back in January that a Bosa training-camp holdout would be likely. That was before the global pandemic hit. But with Garrett signing his extension, a lot of the points in there are back on the table. There is a very real chance that Bosa holds out in search of his new extension.
The Chargers should open up the checkbook and give Bosa what he wants.
Telesco just put your Press Pass in the office shredder. Congrats. He proved his worth last season, when he was keeping the team in games pretty much single-handedly. He is now very much a complete player, after developing as a run defender. But I don’t see this being a seamless negotiation. The Chargers will point to 2018, when they went 7-2 without Bosa, who was dealing with a foot injury.
I don’t buy that logic. They need Bosa on the field. They need him to be with the team long-term to take advantage of their window that will coincide with quarterback Justin Herbert’s rookie deal.
Garrett's contract and Herbert's rookie deal is where Bosa has them. That and if we lose Bosa we are staring at Isaac Rochell at DE........that alone might get you 126 million.
Will they realize this and give in to Bosa’s demands? I’m not sure. We will see if Bosa reports to camp on July 28.
theathletic.com/1940936/2020/07/20/chargers-mailbag-how-will-myles-garretts-extension-affect-joey-bosa/
