It took the Chargers 39 days after the 2013 draft to complete their rookie class signings.

It took them 19 days in 2014 and 12 days in 2015.

This year’s wait soon will extend longer than those three combined.

The Chargers locked in third-round pick Max Tuerk, a center from USC, to a four-year deal Thursday. Seven down. One to go. Defensive end Joey Bosa, the No. 3 overall choice, is the only San Diego pick from the April 28 to 30 draft to remain unsigned. The past three draft classes took 70 total days to complete. Day 70 for Bosa comes Saturday.


His representation and the club have yet to bridge a divide that is two-fold, sources have said.

1 / 10 From left to right, Chargers general manager tom telesco, Joey Bosa, head coach mike mccoy and John Spanos pose for a photo at a press conference to introduce first round pick Joey Bosa. (Misael Virgen) 2 / 10 Joey Bosa conducts interviews with members of the press after being introduced by the San Diego Chargers Friday. (Misael Virgen) 3 / 10 Joey Bosa conducts interviews with members of the press after being introduced by the San Diego Chargers Friday. (Misael Virgen) 4 / 10 First-round pick Joey Bosa speaks at a press conference after being introduced by the Chargers. (Misael Virgen) 5 / 10 The Chargers introduce defensive end Joey Bosa at a press conference Friday. (Misael Virgen) 6 / 10 Members of the press gather at a press conference at Chargers Park to meet first round pick for the San Diego Chargers Joey Bosa. (Misael Virgen) 7 / 10 The Chargers introduce defensive end Joey Bosa at a press conference Friday. (Misael Virgen) 8 / 10 The Chargers introduce defensive end Joey Bosa at a press conference Friday. (Misael Virgen) 9 / 10 The Chargers introduce defensive end Joey Bosa at a press conference Friday. (Misael Virgen) 10 / 10 First-round pick Joey Bosa speaks at a press conference after being introduced by the Chargers. (Misael Virgen)

They stand apart on off-set language — the Chargers have no precedent of removing off-set language from a contract, a precedent his camp has shown desire to set. With many around the NFL considering the Chargers unlikely to budge there, that leaves cash flow as a potential area to settle the dispute. But the two sides have yet to find common ground on how Bosa’s roughly $17 million signing bonus will be paid out between 2016 and 2017.

For a player, it is generally better to receive more sooner than have a larger cash payout later.


Bosa skipped both days of the Chargers’ mandatory minicamp in June and also the final practice of organized team activities the week prior. Two weeks ago, he exercised his right not to attend the team’s mandatory rookie transition program in which players received advice intended to ease their transition in and out of the NFL. Ex-Chargers Shawne Merriman and Quentin Jammer were among those to speak. None of the aforementioned activities are required for someone not under contract.

The real question is will this holdout linger into training camp.

It’d be a lose-lose for the Chargers and Bosa if it does, as the first-round pick would miss valuable instructional time. Defensive end Corey Liuget missed the first week of training camp in 2011 and struggled to some degree upon his return. That’s not to say Bosa would falter the same; he impressed coaches and teammates in the spring, Liuget saying, “I wasn’t doing that as a rookie. I was nowhere near making as many plays as he’s making right now.”

Players report for camp on July 29.


The first practice is the 30th.

It took Tuerk a while to sign, but his situation differed from Bosa’s. There was a holding pattern for many 2016 third-round picks related to actual dollars on the total value of deals, specifically how much money over the NFL minimum a third-round pick could earn over the life of his contract. Titans safety Kevin Byard and Cowboys defensive tackle Maliek Collins, both selected near Tuerk, have yet to sign.

Bosa is one of three unsigned first-round picks. Jets linebacker Darron Lee (No. 20 overall) and Niners guard Joshua Garnett (No. 28) are the others. The Texans signed wide receiver Will Fuller (No. 21) last week. All four share the same representation.