Nick Bosa reportedly set to become highest-paid defender in NFL history
Nick Bosa and the 49ers are reaching the end game in their negotiations over his contract extension, and the latest buzz suggests his deal will be a record-setting one for a defensive player. Much of the speculation surrounding Bosa's contract has concerned whether he will become the highest-paid edge rusher in NFL history or the […]
Nick Bosa and the 49ers are reaching the end game in their negotiations over his contract extension, and the latest buzz suggests his deal will be a record-setting one for a defensive player.
Much of the speculation surrounding Bosa's contract has concerned whether he will become the highest-paid edge rusher in NFL history or the highest-paid defender ever.
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, it is likely to be the latter.
By average annual salary, Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams is the NFL's highest-paid defender. Donald's average annual value is $31.6 million.
But on Saturday, Fowler said on ESPN of Bosa's prospective contract:
"People I talk to believe that he'll be the highest-paid defensive player in the league, above Aaron Donald's $31-plus million, if they can get this to the finish line. The Niners would like to push this through before Week 1, but not a slam dunk, a deal of this magnitude has a lot of nuance to it that they have to shake out with the structure, the guarantees, all of that."
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated had recently reported that bridging the gap between the distinctions of highest-paid edge and highest-paid non-quarterback was the sticking point in discussions between the two sides.
The determination to navigate that divide will only have been heightened with the 49ers' season opener with the Steelers just a week away.
While having the title of highest-paid defender will be significant to Bosa and his representatives, it is not something the Niners are likely to give much thought to provided they can structure the deal in a reasonably team-friendly manner.
Indeed, getting Bosa on the field for an extremely tough Week 1 is the paramount concern for the Niners at this point in a lengthy saga.
Yes, they need to ensure his contract is not overly onerous in the years to come. However, for a win-now team that is firmly in the mode of 'Super Bowl or bust', it is just as important to get their most impactful defensive player out there to give the 49ers the best chance of starting fast in a season in which they are again expected to compete for the top seed in the NFC.
Both sides have kept calm and largely quiet throughout Bosa's lengthy holdout but, now it has reached the point where a lack of resolution could have a tangible negative impact on the team, it is time for action from the 49ers. It looks as if that action will see Bosa leapfrog Donald and earn a deal that will be, at least for the coming season, the gold standard among NFL defenders.
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Featured Image Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
