While nothing has happened as of yet, there are reports as to what Nick Bosa’s contract extension could look like. The defensive end was drafted in the 2019 NFL draft as the second overall pick. This is the final year of Bosa’s contract after the team picked up his fifth-year opinion in the 2022 off-season. Now, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year is up for a big extension, but what will that look like?
Nick Bosa’s Contract Possibilities
After being with the team for four years, the team is negotiating an extension with their top edge rusher. Although there are no official numbers out there, Nick Bosa’s contract could break franchise records. There have been estimated numbers and debate on if it will be more than Rams’ star, Aaron Donald.
49ers defensive end Nick Bosa – Kyle Terada//USA TODAY Sports
Since Bosa was drafted with a stacked 2019 draft class, the 49ers have made the NFC Championship in all but one of the years. In the 2020 season, the one year that the team did not make the playoffs, Bosa was out with an ACL tear. Aside from that year, Bosa has only missed a couple of games and has remained fairly healthy. Even missing the occasional game, Bosa has put up high stats. In 2022, Bosa missed one game and still had 18.5 sacks. That game may be a factor; he never tied the franchise record of 19.5 sacks, but it is safe to say Nick Bosa’s contract will be worth it.
Aaron Donald’s most recent contract was a three-year deal worth $95 million. Through negotiations, it is probable that Bosa’s contract will be similar to Donald’s, if not more. When looking at the other top edge rushers in the league, Bosa’s contract would be closer to Donald’s than the other high players, such as T.J. Watt, who currently earns $28 million APY, according to David Lombardi on Twitter.
Bosa’s agent could use Donald’s 2022 stats as a tool for why Nick Bosa’s contract should be higher. Donald finished the season with an injury, but a contract negotiation could use that. Bosa should easily surpass the list of highest-paid edge rushers, but if he surpasses Donald, he could be the highest-paid defender in the league. Aside from money, the length of the contract could also be questioned. San Francisco would want to lock him up for around five years, but it is possible that a shorter contract, such as three years, would be argued on Bosa’s side.
49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) – Scot Tucker/AP Photo
In his four years with the team, Bosa has had a total of 43 sacks and 106 quarterback hits. He also has one interception that he almost returned for a touchdown but was tackled shortly before in 2019. The star edge rusher has also had eight forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. It is safe to say that while it will be a big one, Nick Bosa’s contract will be worth it.
The 49ers have signed high-profile player extensions later in the summer, and not hearing anything yet should not be cause for concern. Back in 2020, tight end George Kittle signed his extension in August, and last off-season, wide receiver Deebo Samuel signed his extension in July. A similar situation could happen with Nick Bosa’s contract extension, and it is a good thing that the team picked up his fifth-year option in the 2022 off-season.
The 49ers are down to about three million dollars in cap space, according to Over the Cap. Luckily the team only needs to focus on the draft when it comes to new additions. Signing Bosa to an extension could potentially lower this season’s cap, depending on the structure. Quarterback Sam Darnold is the team’s highest-paid quarterback, which is unusual for a team who just made the NFC Championship game. San Francisco can take advantage of having three cheap quarterbacks on the roster and build around them.
General Manager John Lynch has continuously said to the media for over a year that the team plans to keep Bosa around for a long time, and it is clear why. It should be expected that Nick Bosa’s contract will be around $31.7 annually to match Donald’s contract. As for the length, three to five years should be expected, but who knows what will happen as the team pushes for their star player’s contract.
