The Los Angeles Chargers need someone to replace the departed Joey Bosa, and former second-round pick Tuli Tuipulotu could be the man for the job. Selected in the second round in the 2023 NFL Draft, the USC product had a promising rookie season. Appearing in all 17 games while making 11 starts, Tuipulotu finished his inaugural campaign with 4.5 sacks, 53 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, and a 71.0 PFF grade. Playing under a new regime in 2024, he remained productive with 8.5 sacks, 42 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, and a 66.5 PFF grade.
With Bosa released and landing with the Buffalo Bills, Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus believes Tuli Tuipulotu is one of the biggest breakout candidates in the league. In a recent article, the NFL analyst laid out his case for why he thinks a big season is inevitable.
“Tuipulotu playing regularly shouldn’t be a newfound phenomenon given Joey Bosa’s repeated injuries over the last few years, but the 22-year-old can now enter camp perceiving himself as a legitimate starter in a thin edge-rushing group,” Locker writes. “If Tuipulotu cleans up the missed tackles – his 30.1% miss rate was fourth-worst among qualified edge defenders – then his production against both the pass and run should elevate.”
PFF: Chargers Tuli Tuipulotu Will Break Out In 2025
Khalil Mack is the unquestioned top option on the Los Angeles Chargers defensive line, but Tuli Tuipulotu has the opportunity to become a locked-in starter opposite the future Hall of Famer. As mentioned above, he must improve at finishing plays, but he’s entering his age-23 season and still has plenty of time to improve. After making the playoffs in the first year of the Jim Harbaugh Era, the Los Angeles Chargers enter 2025 with Super Bowl aspirations, and Tuipulotu can help the team take the next step in a crowded division.
Main Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea – Imagn Images
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