The first pick of the San Diego Chargers’ last-ever draft was almost impossible to mess up.
Tom Telesco and John Spanos could choose whichever non-quarterback they wanted from a group much-praised by former NFL scouts within the media.
The choice, Joey Bosa, an edge rusher from Ohio State, elicited applause from many pundits. At the rookie’s initial practices at Murphy Canyon, fans chanted “Bo-sa, Bo-sa.”
The son of a former NFL edge rusher, Bosa possessed the fast, smart hands of a young Leslie O’Neal. He began his career with two sacks in his NFL debut at Oakland, followed two weeks later by two more sacks in Atlanta.
Through four games, Bosa had put 10 hits on quarterbacks and made six tackles behind the line of scrimmage. By season’s end he’d amassed 10½, 21 hits on QBs and 17 tackles-for-loss in just 12 games.
If the comparisons to J.J. Watt were too rich, Bosa looked like a future Pro Bowl regular who would make an All-Pro team or two at a critical position. Young for a rookie, Bosa didn’t turn 22 until his second NFL training camp.
The main question was the same question that’s asked of all NFL players. Could Bosa prove durable, as he had at Ohio State?
The answer: No, not really.
The hamstring injury that sidelined Bosa for four games to start his NFL career was a bad sign, it turned out. Subsequent injuries to numerous other body parts — including his feet, hands and back — have shut him down in many other seasons.
Bosa has missed 30% of the Chargers’ games in eight-plus seasons.
Now 29, Bosa said this week he has recovered from his most recent injury bouts and will play Sunday against the Saints. His track record suggests the Chargers should view any contributions from Bosa as a bonus.
His career serves as a reminder that availability is an ability, too. Still, it’s difficult to see where the Chargers erred in their evaluation of him, if they erred at all.
This is a four-time Pro Bowler with 69 career sacks who, as projected, wins often as a rusher and run defender.
The Chargers’ conviction in Bosa’s devotion to craft proved correct, too. He maintained a high level of fitness when not injured. The coaches’ film revealed a player who gives high effort and does the grunt work with gusto, too.
Among the first impressions of him in San Diego was that his walking gait was a bit clunky for an NFL athlete/top draftee, but I can’t second-guess the Chargers for drafting him.
Nor has he proved to be a bust.
Good timing
For the past few decades, the Chargers have enjoyed remarkable good luck when it comes to the timing of their numerous bad seasons.
They’ve lost their way to a top-10 draft pick in years that were stacked with attractive prospects.
Bosa was just one of several well-regarded non-QBs available when the Chargers picked No. 3 overall in 2016.
The Chargers also considered Florida State cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Oregon defensive/tackle DeForest Buckner and offensive tackles Ronnie Stanley and Laremy Tunsil. (The Chargers weren’t a fit for Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott, who went fourth overall to the Cowboys. A year earlier they’d traded up to draft running back Melvin Gordon 15th).
Ramsey and Buckner have had the best careers to date, combining durability with high-level performance.
Ramsey, a three-time All-Pro with 30 more games played than Bosa, assisted the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning run after he smartly orchestrated a trade out of Jacksonville.
Buckner, a two-time All-Pro, has held up in the mosh pit to log 36 more games than Bosa. Buckner facilitated the 49ers’ rise to regular Super Bowl contender.
Tunsil has matched Bosa’s four Pro Bowl selections and missed 19 fewer games.
Injuries have cost Stanley about the same number of games as Bosa, but this year, the left tackle has given Ravens coach John Harbaugh an excellent half-season.
Facilitating QB Lamar Jackson’s dominance, the blind-side protector hasn’t allowed a sack across 224 -blocking snaps. According to Zebra Technologies, Stanley is the only left tackle with 50-plus -blocking snaps and no sacks allowed.
