Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Payments defensive finish Joey Bosa (97) warms up previous to the sport towards the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Mark Konezny-Imagn Pictures
The Minnesota Vikings may want a little bit little bit of assist at exterior linebacker, Joey Bosa stays a free agent, and Bleacher Report believes the 2 events might sq. dance.
Minnesota has in-house EDGE choices, however Bosa’s profile retains him related within the Vikings rumor mill.
The Vikings stated goodbye to Jonathan Greenard 4 weeks in the past, making a void on the perimeters of the line of defense. Maybe Bosa could possibly be the particular sauce.
Veteran Cross Rush Choice Stays Obtainable
Bosa is certainly one of a number of veteran EDGEs on the free-agent wire ready for contracts.
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Joey Bosa runs throughout the sector earlier than kickoff towards the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sep. 25, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Bosa entered the 2022 marketing campaign as one of many NFL’s premier edge rushers and remained a cornerstone of the Chargers’ protection through the AFC playoff chase. Necessary Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Pictures
BR: Vikings Make Sense as Touchdown Spot for Bosa
Alex Kay examined the NFL’s high remaining free brokers, and Bosa obtained a nod.
He wrote, “Perhaps most importantly to his prospects for 2026 and beyond, Bosa played nearly two-thirds of Buffalo’s defensive snaps. Considering he hadn’t logged a snap share higher than 54 percent since 2021, it was promising to see the once injury-ravaged defender return to playing a key role for a quality defense.”
“Working against Bosa is a glut of serviceable edge rushing talent lingering on the open market, but the 2016 Defensive Rookie of the Year stands as a cut above his unemployed peers.”
Kay then named one of the best touchdown spots, “Whether a team plans to use him as a rotational depth option or a higher-volume starter, Bosa still provides enough speed, power and skill to move the needle for any defense ahead of his 11th NFL season. Potential Landing Spots: Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers.”
That’s a who’s who of NFC combatants for Bosa, who’s by no means performed exterior the AFC, imagine it or not.
Bosa’s Profession Manufacturing
Bosa entered the professionals in 2016 — sure, that way back — and right here’s his manufacturing within the final 10 seasons:
2025: 5 Sacks | 54 Pressures | 13 QB Hits | 36 QB Hurries2024: 6 Sacks | 39 Pressures | 10 QB Hits | 23 QB Hurries2023: 7 Sacks | 24 Pressures | 3 QB Hits | 14 QB Hurries2022: 3 Sacks | 18 Pressures | 4 QB Hits | 11 QB Hurries2021: 10 Sacks | 69 Pressures | 9 QB Hits | 50 QB Hurries2020: 8 Sacks | 61 Pressures | 22 QB Hits | 31 QB Hurries2019: 12 Sacks | 72 Pressures | 17 QB Hits | 43 QB Hurries2018: 7 Sacks | 38 Pressures | 5 QB Hits | 26 QB Hurries2017: 13 Sacks | 75 Pressures | 11 QB Hits | 51 QB Hurries2016: 11 Sacks | 59 Pressures | 11 QB Hits | 37 QB Hurries
And his Professional Soccer Focus historical past:
2025: 74.6 Complete | 85.5 Cross Rush | 52.0 Run Def2024: 61.1 Complete | 64.8 Cross Rush | 67.4 Run Def2023: 78.4 Complete | 80.3 Cross Rush | 70.7 Run Def2022: 76.0 Complete | 84.2 Cross Rush | 74.2 Run Def2021: 85.8 Complete | 90.3 Cross Rush | 68.4 Run Def2020: 90.2 Complete | 90.5 Cross Rush | 83.1 Run Def2019: 89.6 Complete | 90.3 Cross Rush | 73.1 Run Def2018: 71.5 Complete | 70.8 Cross Rush | 63.6 Run Def2017: 88.8 Complete | 91.3 Cross Rush | 63.5 Run Def2016: 86.6 Complete | 81.9 Cross Rush | 85.2 Run Def
His vacation spot resume:
Los Angeles Chargers (2016–2024)
Buffalo Payments (2025)
Bosa has been named to the Professional Bowl 5 occasions and led the NFL in compelled fumbles in 2025.
The Worth
NFL free company kicked off in early March, and Bosa continues to be ready on his 2026 marching orders. He could also be a kind of gamers who latches onto a brand new roster later in the summertime, even perhaps ducking the grueling periods of coaching camp. Veterans are sometimes afforded that luxurious if they’ve five-time Professional Bowl clout — like Bosa.
Buffalo Payments defensive finish Joey Bosa watches the offensive line throughout second-half motion towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov. 16, 2025, at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. Bosa joined Buffalo after his prolonged Chargers tenure and introduced veteran pass-rushing expertise to the Payments’ defensive entrance through the 2025 season. Necessary Credit score: Tina MacIntyre-Yee-Imagn Pictures
He received’t be low cost for his subsequent staff. The Vikings or a special EDGE-needy staff can possible signal Bosa to a one-year deal price $10 million to $15 million. Bosa’s worth might drop the longer he stays on the free-agent wire, however he’ll by no means be gettable for pennies. He’s nonetheless productive.
The Vikings, in the meantime, don’t have a ton of open cap house. Over the Cap reveals roughly $11.5 million, however that’s with out the nonetheless mysterious Jauan Jennings cap cost tossed into the combination. Consequently, the true open room in all probability is available in nearer to $3 or $4 million, not less than till the June 1st enhance.
Golday, Richter, Batty?
If the Vikings don’t commerce for or signal one other go rusher in free company, they nonetheless have a number of in-house choices behind Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner.
Rookie Jake Golday is a chief instance. Whereas Minnesota drafted him as an off-ball linebacker, he performed some EDGE in faculty earlier than shifting inside at Cincinnati. Brian Flores might make the most of Golday in a job just like Van Ginkel’s, mixing exterior linebacker duties with off-ball work.
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Joey Bosa stands on the sector throughout warmups earlier than a street sport towards the Washington Soccer Workforce on Sep. 12, 2021, at FedExField in Landover, Maryland. The veteran defender opened the 2021 season because the centerpiece of Brandon Staley’s protection after a number of Professional Bowl campaigns in Los Angeles. Necessary Credit score: Geoff Burke-Imagn Pictures
Flores additionally has two undrafted exterior linebackers in Bo Richter and Tyler Batty. Both participant might doubtlessly step up and contribute as a 3rd exterior linebacker (OLB3). If that occurs, Minnesota may bypass the veteran market completely.
As a contingency, the staff might flip to free company for a non-Bosa candidate, the place a notable checklist of go rushers stays accessible, together with Denico Autry, Derek Barnett, Jadeveon Clowney, Marcus Davenport, A.J. Epenesa, Leonard Floyd, Cameron Jordan, Von Miller, Haason Reddick, and Kyle Van Noy.
Bosa will flip 31 this summer time; he’s not historic in NFL phrases.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
