Chargers trade Joey Bosa for Brandon Aiyuk in latest proposal scenario

The Los Angeles Chargers are undoubtedly strongest in their edge rusher room and weaker in their wide receiver corps. The Athletic’s Daniel Popper proposed a scenario to leverage the former to bolster the latter.

In an article compiling trade scenarios for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, Popper suggested the Chargers offer EDGE Joey Bosa and a 2025 fourth-round selection. The Chargers would immediately benefit from acquiring one of the best wide receivers in football while trading away an oft-injured edge rusher from a group already boasting Khalil Mack, rookie sensation Tuli Tuipulotu, and Bud Dupree.

Trading Bosa would free up eight million dollars in cap space in 2024 and clear $25.36 million in 2025, most of which would go to Aiyuk’s extension. The Chargers would have an instant WR1 for the foreseeable future with at minimum both Tuipulotu and Dupree under contract next year. The Chargers are projected to have one fifth-round and two sixth-round compensatory picks in 2025, so parting with a 2025 fourth-round selection is much easier to manage. It almost seems too good to be true.

The 49ers parting with a borderline Top 10 wide receiver for a Day Three selection and a chance for Nick Bosa to play with his brother seems unlikely. Joey is, unfortunately, a health risk and has admitted personal concerns over his concussion history. While he would be an instant upgrade over Leonard Floyd and Drake Jackson, Bosa is not worth the risk and certainly not worth a near one-for-one trade for Aiyuk. Perhaps the 49ers’ front office shakeup with the departure of former assistant general manager Adam Peters could result in a riskier move in an all-in season to win a Super Bowl. This still seems unlikely while John Lynch remains in charge.

Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz fielded calls prior to free agency seeking significant trade compensation for Bosa. He did not find any offers he was interested in, so Bosa remained and opted to take a pay cut to see one year through with Jim Harbaugh. As Popper pointed out in his segment, moving forward with Bosa on a pay cut only to pull the rug from out underneath him would be a bit heartless. Ultimately, while the Chargers should be exploring a trade, it will take more given up and a different path to land Aiyuk.