Chargers have a critical decision to face on a rising young star, and the clock is ticking
Los Angeles is entering a contract year for one of their best young players, and they can ill afford to see him leave.
The Los Angeles Chargers didn’t have to look far to make their second-r0und selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Bolts tabbed the hometown star in USC Trojans edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu with the 54th overall pick.
That pick has proven to be quite the shrewd one wise one by former general manager Tom Telesco. Tuipulotu has progressed in each of his three seasons in the league. He totaled 4.5 sacks his rookie season. That total jumped up to a respectable 8.5 in 2024.
Last season was a true breakthrough for Tuipulotu though. He reached 13.0 sacks and totaled 20 tackles for loss in 16 games, which earned him Pro Bowl honors for the first time.
Now, he enters the fourth season of his rookie contract, and he’s clearly earned a significant pay raise from the franchise. How soon will that come? For general manager Joe Hortiz, the longer that he waits, the potentially more expensive it could become, particularly if Tuipulotu continues his momentum into another strong season.
ESPN reviewed the situations of contract extensions for one player on all 32 teams, and Tuipulotu got the nod for Los Angeles.
EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu is entering final year of his rookie contract after a Pro Bowl season
“Fresh off a career-best 13.5 sacks, which ranked sixth in the NFL, Tuipulotu is due for a payday,” wrote ESPN’s Kris Rhim. “He heads into the final season of his rookie contract as the biggest remaining domino for general manager Joe Hortiz. The Chargers and Tuipulotu’s representation have discussed an extension throughout the offseason, but a deal hasn’t yet been agreed to. ‘Man, I don’t know,’ ESPN quoted Tuipulotu regarding time for a possible extension. ‘I’m going to be here. I’m going to be with the team.’”
Tuipulotu signed a four-year, $6.57 million contract after being drafted by Los Angeles. Per Spotrac, he will make a base salary of $5.77 million in 2026 under that deal. Spotrac estimates a market value for a new deal for him at four years and $74.68 million. With an AAV of over $18 million, that’s more than triple he’s set to earn in 2026.
Edge rushers are tasked with making impact, game-changing plays. Tuipulotu finished sixth in sacks and tied for fourth in tackles for loss (with Houston’s Will Anderson). It goes without saying that he did that in 2025.
Will the Chargers and Tuipulotu get a new deal across the finish line in the next two and a half months before the regular season begins? We’ll have to wait and see.