49ers' star Nick Bosa could reset positional market in 2024 free agency
The San Francisco 49ers have a guy that could cause a huge shift in the 2024 free agency market. You probably guessed it; Nick Bosa is that guy. The 2022 Defensive Player of the Year is at risk, if that's what you want to call it, of resetting the market for not only edge rushers […]
The San Francisco 49ers have a guy that could cause a huge shift in the 2024 free agency market. You probably guessed it; Nick Bosa is that guy. The 2022 Defensive Player of the Year is at risk, if that's what you want to call it, of resetting the market for not only edge rushers but defensive players in general.
Nick Bosa is going to be a free agent after his 2023 season, and while he could get franchise tagged, I'm going to assume the 49ers will pay him right off the bat while they can, and man, it's going to be a lot of money. One NFL analyst predicts he will become the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history, resetting the edge rusher market.
All he did in 2022 was add another piece of hardware to his trophy case with his first Defensive Player of the Year award. Bosa led the NFL with 73 pressures (per Next Gen Stats), and he also paced the league with 18.5 sacks and 48 QB hits (the third-most in a single season since the metric was tracked in 2006). He joined J.J. Watt (2012, 2014) and Aaron Donald (2018) as the only players to record at least 18 sacks and 40 QB hits in the same season. No defensive player is within $3.5 million of Donald's $31.7 million average per year. However, Bosa should not only be the NFL's second $30 million defensive player, but he will likely become the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history in short time. Nick's brother, Joey, currently holds the second edge rusher spot on the All-Paid Team. The thought of Joey going from the second-highest-paid pass rusher in the NFL to the second-highest-paid pass rusher in his family is hilarious. –Anthony Holzman-Escareno, NFL.com
Nick Bosa will only get better from here, and signing him to a monstrous deal before things get out of hand is smart. He can get upward of $32 million a year, which is insane. That would have him passing Aaron Donald as the highest defensive player in the league, but it would be worth it.
As a rookie, he won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, then the next season, he tore his ACL. Even after going through that, he still got even better. Imagine what else is in store for him. Signing him would be one of the best decisions the 49ers could make.
Just at the rate Bosa is at, he has a chance to be one of the greatest defensive players of all time. Making him the highest-paid ever in today league isn't a bad thing. You need to pay your transcending players what they deserve. Not to mention, the very next year, the market could change again with Micah Parsons.
Featured Image Via Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
