National media believes 49ers have 'no choice' in Nick Bosa contract negotiations
The San Francisco 49ers can’t mess up Nick Bosa’s contract negotiations.
Nick Bosa may not be thinking about contract negotiations, but the San Francisco 49ers are.
And Bill Barnwell of ESPN knows that. Leading him to believe the Niners have no other choice than to make Bosa the richest defensive player in the NFL.
"Coming off of a season in which he was Defensive Player of the Year and finished sixth in the league's MVP balloting, the 49ers really have no choice but to make their star edge rusher the highest-paid defender in NFL history," Barnwell wrote. "A big, round number is coming; Bosa should be the first defensive player in league history to average more than $30 million per season on a multi-year deal."
That massive contract extension is well-deserved for Bosa.
He tallied a league-leading 18.5 sacks last season, and he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
In the 2021 season, Bosa led the Niners with 15.5 sacks, and that was coming off a 2020 season that saw him go down with an ACL injury. Back in 2019, Bosa earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. And his presence has made the 49ers' defense one of the most fearful units in the league.
As for those cap geeks worried about the team's financial future, if it makes Bosa the highest-paid defender in the league, the simple answer is don't worry.
"Well, they don't have to make room for it because I think a contract extension for Nick Bosa will actually reduce the salary cap space—or I should say reduce his cap number—this first season," Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area recently said on the 49ers Talk podcast. "Where you'll see it will be in future years where he makes a lot of money, and I fully expect him to be the highest-paid defensive player in the game.
"[As for] when it gets done, I don't think it's going to be a real easy negotiation. They have a track record of getting these contracts done, whether it's George Kittle, whether it's Fred Warner, whether it's Deebo Samuel. So each year they've gotten a big-time contract done with a guy who is already under contract, as Bosa is. But it usually is right in the shadow of the start of training camp.
"And so if the 49ers can get that done with Nick Bosa, more than likely, it would be late July. They don't want it spilling over into training camp. But this one, boy, this one wouldn't surprise me if it does go into August a little bit."
Bosa's contract is non-negotiable. Based on his play, the Niners need to hand Bosa a blank check and figure the rest out later.
Feature image via Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports.
