Mitchell Schwartz says Joey Bosa’s lucrative extension is ‘well deserved’

Mitchell Schwartz says Joey Bosa’s new extension is well deserved.

Despite the uncertain short-term financial future due to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, NFL teams are handing out record contracts left and right. Shortly after the Kansas City Chiefs made quarterback Patrick Mahomes the highest-paid player in the league, the Los Angeles Chargers also decided to reward defensive end Joey Bosa with a record-setting deal of his own.

Bosa’s new deal stretches five more years and is worth up to $135 million, with $102 million of that total in guaranteed money. That’s the most guaranteed money ever offered to a defensive player in the NFL.

Mitchell Schwartz was asked about Bosa’s deal in a recent media session and it was clear that the Chiefs star right tackle has a lot of respect for his rival. Not only does he admit the stress involved in preparing for Bosa, he also says the contract was “well deserved.”

"“The preparation is a lot of panic that week [when preparing for Bosa], and trying to calm your stress down. But he’s just incredibly well-rounded,” says Schwartz. “There are guys that have a plan in terms of they want to attack you this way and they study you and all that. There are guys who are instinctive. He really combines the two of them. He has a plan and knows how he wants to attack you. He knows what’s going to work, but the second you overset he goes inside. Or the second you set too far on your heels, he bullrushes you.“So it’s really difficult. There’s not much you can do. You just gotta try to battle him and hope the ball is out. He’s able to do anything in either run or pass. That’s why he’s the highest paid guy in football on the defensive side. It’s very well deserved.”"

Schwartz is certainly a worthy opponent for Bosa, as the Chiefs right tackle has earned himself a first-team or second-team All-Pro honor in each of the last four seasons. Given his level of excellence on the field, Schwartz would know better than most what it takes to compete at his level and Bosa certainly does just that. Twice a year, the pair meet on the field as the Chiefs and Chargers compete in the AFC West.

Bosa has dominated on the field for the Chargers since they first selected him at No. 3 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. Injuries have held him back for a couple seasons, but overall he’s been every bit the consistent pass rushing force along the defensive front since they drafted him. He has 40 sacks in 51 career games, including 11.5 last season. Bosa also added 31 quarterback hits in 2019 alone.

Bosa has made the Pro Bowl in both 2017 and 2019.