For a long time, the Los Angeles Chargers relied on Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack to be their leading pass rushers.
That torch has been passed to Tuli Tuipulotu.
The 2023 second-round pick is leading the charge in 2025. He has a career-high 12.5 sacks for the playoff contenders.
Tuipulotu is also doing this at a good time for his financial future. This offseason, he's eligible for a contract extension.
MORE: ACL recovery timeline impacts when Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons will return
ESPN's latest power rankings take time to examine an extension candidate for each team. Tuipulotu is the guy for the Chargers, and it sounds like a deal may indeed be in the works.
"Tuipulotu has emerged as one of the league's best pass rushers, leading the Chargers with a career-high 12 sacks this season," ESPN's Kris Rhim writes. "The 2023 second-round pick sat behind outside linebackers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack for his first two years, and he has put it all together in his first season as a full-time starter. Tuipulotu is tied with the Broncos' Nik Bonitto for the eighth-highest pressure rate in the league (12.9%). Eligible for a contract extension after this season, he is well-positioned for a long-term deal with the Chargers."
MORE: ACL recovery timeline impacts when Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons will return
There are certain positions that, if you can nail them down, have you set for years to come.
The Chargers have already done that at quarterback, where they have their franchise guy, Justin Herbert.
If they can keep Tuipulotu around long term, that's another key spot that they'll feel much more secure at.
Much like the Nik Bonitto breakout for the Broncos a year ago that earned him an extension and set up for an even bigger season this time around, Tuipulotu's future is very bright. The Chargers should want that to be with them.
More NFL news:
- Jaxson Dart has a 50% head injury problem
- Trevor Lawrence had a game never before done by an NFL quarterback
- A Travis Kelce retirement hint is coming
- Tua Tagovailoa's contract looks like a nightmare
- Patrick Mahomes' injury has fans asking Tom Brady ACL question
- This Mike Tomlin horrible streak is hard to believe