SEPTEMBER 9: Details were released today on Bosa’s big money extension. The five-year, $170MM extension reported below includes $88MM in fully guaranteed money (Overthecap.com), beating out the previous high from Watt’s contract of $80MM. Like most massive deals are, the deal is incredibly backloaded.
With cap hits for the next three years of $11.01MM in 2023, $14.67MM in 2024, and $20.52MM in 2025, things get much scarier over the following three years with cap hits of $42.03MM in 2026, $52.03MM in 2027, and $42.85MM in 2028. The team will likely never see those cap numbers as they’ll probably end up doing some restructuring before those dates appear, but with $88MM fully guaranteed, Bosa doesn’t have much to be concerned about.
According to David Lombardi of The Athletic, adjusting Bosa’s cap hit in 2023 sets San Francisco up well for future potential cap issues. With $42MM of cap space in 2023, the 49ers have plenty of space to go out and acquire some top talent by the trade deadline. If not, unused cap will roll over into 2024, a season in which the 49ers are projected to be $40MM over the salary cap. This would mean that San Francisco wouldn’t need to make any moves in order to stay under the cap with their current projected roster, though some adjusted are still expected.
SEPTEMBER 6: One of the NFL’s high-profile holdouts has come to an end. Nick Bosa has agreed to a five-year, $170MM extension with the 49ers, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Schefter adds that the monster pact includes $122.5MM in guaranteed money, which, coupled with the $34MM annual average value, comfortably makes this the largest commitment ever made to a defensive player. Bosa will see more guaranteed money – provided it is paid out in full over the life of the pact – than all but four players in the league, each of whom are quarterbacks. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero adds that Bosa will receive a $50MM signing bonus, which is also unprecedented for defenders.
It has long been assumed that the former No. 2 pick would eclipse the $28MM-per-year mark and in doing so overtake T.J. Watt as the league’s top paid edge rusher. The only question was whether or not Bosa would move past Aaron Donald (whose re-worked Rams deal pays out $31.67MM per year) as the top earning non-quarterback. That question has now been answered rather emphatically, as reporting on this situation suggested would be the case.
Bosa – who has long been on the extension radar – has been holding out through the summer in an attempt to leverage a new deal. He incurred $40K in daily fines starting at the onset of training camp, but the team has long been expected to waive those. NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco confirms that will indeed be the case. The 25-year-old will now travel to Santa Clara in advance of a very brief ramp-up period for his fifth season with the 49ers.
After following in his brother Joey Bosa‘s footsteps at Ohio State, Nick entered the league with massive expectations. He has lived up to them when healthy, earning a Pro Bowl nod each year aside from his injured-shortened 2020 campaign. Bosa took a step forward in 2022 by leading the league in sacks (18.5), helping him win Defensive Player of the Year honors. A continuation of that production will be expected through at least most of the term of this deal, which will cover the remainder of his prime years.
Bosa was due to earn $10.8MM this season on the fifth-year option, but with an extension in place his cap hit for the coming season can now be adjusted. He has a window of only a few practices to prepare for Sunday’s season opener against the Steelers, but head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed during a Wednesday press conference (via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo) that Bosa will indeed suit up for that contest.
With Bosa’s holdout now in the past, attention will turn increasingly to Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones and Panthers edge rusher Brian Burns. The latter in particular will be affected by today’s news, as he is believed to be seeking a second contract not far off the AAV of what Bosa earned on his extension. Looking ahead, talks between the Cowboys and Micah Parsons on a monster deal next offseason will no doubt be centered in large part on the figures of today’s agreement.
For now, though, San Francisco can enter another season in which expectations are high (particularly on the defensive side of the ball) with the team’s best defender on the books through 2028. A repeat of Bosa’s previous performances could again make the 49ers a force in the NFC come playoff time now and into the future.
Excellent. Bosa deserves every bit of it…
Deserve is an ugly word, but ok. I think that people “deserve” what a seal deserves, which is anything that you catch with your mouth. He put himself in position to cash in and he did so that is whatever. Those cap numbers look crazy and will put his team in a cap situation where they cannot afford to pay his teammates, but they will get what they “deserve” from another team!
If youre gonna give him that contact why did it take this long? Wow 2024 Lynch has to earn his money. To much money out
Thank God. I do believe this extension will lead to Kittle being traded in the offseason and that’s why they drafted 2 TEs hoping one will stick and probably will draft another TE or 2 early in this draft but I think he’s gone this offseason especially since they want to extend Aiyuk. But this was a must. Glad it’s done.
Kittle isn’t going anywhere.
He going to turn 30 so I can see him being the odd one out next year.
Really depends on who stays healthy this year … Kittle and Deebo both tend to suffer some injuries throughout the year.
They just restructured his deal yesterday and that adds more financial responsibility to future years in his deal. The very reason you gave to getting rid of him is the same reason teams will not take the contract with more $$$ to owe.
You’re right. Teams don’t restructure salaries for guys they plan on getting rid of in the next year or two.
Trent Williams deal was never fully intended to be played completely out. If he retires, they will further restructure that deal with void years to smooth out the dead cap hits.
I think Lynch has a firm handle on this salary cap situation. they wouldn’t have made the Bosa deal if they couldn’t figure it out. This won’t be a Rams situation and I think the flow of this team will be good for the next several years.
No. The Rams/Saints/Patriots/Bucs situation is exactly what they are headed for. Lynch has not figured a way out of the cap limitations that other teams did not. I’m glad you have faith, but to the rest of us the 49ers look like the other teams.
They would offload Samuel and Aiyuk long before they traded little…
Indeed. Outside his excellent blocking and RAC abilities, the Niner run game seems (from the eye test) just slightly above average without him.
While the run game has tended to excel under teams guided by a Shanahan, Kittle is the essential ingredient necessary for a dominant SF run game.
Don’t forget it isn’t just with Kittle, it is with Kittle AND Juice together is when their run game really excels!!
neither of those guys are going anywhere either.
They were always going to pay the man. Not sure what they thought there was to be gained by waiting until 4 days before the first game.
It seems several GMs this off season pretended to play hardball with star players knowing full well it was just a bit of posturing to impress their owners. In the end Barkley, Jacobs, Martin and Bosa all got new deals.
And Elliott, Cook and Jonathan Taylor were sent to unemployed queue. Granted Elliott found something to do in Belichik World and the Jets picked up Cook on a cheap contract. Taylor is still sitting at home.
That’s what I’m freaking TALKING ABOUT
I still can’t believe they are going into the season starting a 7th round QB and having Darnold as his backup. It’s an offensive league, not a defensive one anymore.
What were their options to land a clear upgrade at QB? They pretty much had to bet on Purdy being the real deal, and if he was a fluke last year, well…….they’ve been making nice playoff runs with subpar QB play this entire contention window and nearly went all the way once.
Trade Bosa for picks. Draft another QB next offseason. Some sucker team would have given up high picks for him. ATL, AZ, Bears, Lions, Colts, LV, Chargers, Saints…..All have a solid recent (many long) history of not winning & drafting high. Fleece them, like Seattle did to Denver. Giants think they have their QB of today in D Jones who passed for a whopping 15 TD’s last year. Lots of poorly run teams looking for big trade & media attention.
So your solution would’ve been to unload a core piece and irreplaceable pass rusher, and play for the future while they’re a top team in the NFC built to win right now, when Purdy may very well be legit?
Sorry arty, but if you were the GM the stadium would be burning and an angry mob of 9ers fans would be coming down your street.
Every year, core players are traded and/or leave in FA. Remember all of the WR’s that went to new teams last year? Hill, Adams, & Brown come to mind. Look at what Carolina paid to move up for the 1st pick this year. Next offseason it will (most likely) be the RB’s on the move. That’s my guess.
It’s a QB league and thinking you’re honestly going to be competitive for seasons w/ a 7th round pick followed by Darnold is poor decision in my book. I can see rolling with them for this season, but would prefer to have the picks to move up in the draft for a prospect w/ a higher ceiling. And Bosa would have provided that in the form of a trade.
Trading Bosa before paying him would have been a very interesting play, as SF would have gained picks and saved cap.
I’m not entirely sold on Purdy but they did go 6-0 and averaged 33.5 ppg with Purdy last year. Then they won two playoff games with him.
We’ll see. It’s well documented that a new QB can catch D’s off guard. Then after studying tape, slow them up. In all positions, very rarely do 7th round picks make the team, let alone become successful or long term starters.
Hey man the niners have a former top 5 pick qb as a backup and traded another top 5 pick qb for peanuts. Baker mayfield sam darnold in the 2018 draft sometimes they f up. Purdy balled out and listened to his coach and the results speak for themselves. If he didn’t tear his ucl vs the eagles he could have lost to the chiefs in the superb owl
To his credit Brock Purdy was an above average QB in college elevating a pretty weak overall Iowa State team.
Other than Breece Hall, and a couple later round picks in 4th Round TE Charlie Kolar and 6th Round WR Xavier Hutchinson there really wasn’t all that much for Purdy to work with at Iowa State. Even so, he consistently outperformed expectations helping them win and helping keeping them competitive in several games where they were clearly overmatched in from a talent perspective.
Purdy started as a sophomore in college, so his own strengths and weaknesses have been well documented on tape. That isn’t to say that Kyle didn’t use him a bit differently in his own scheme, but that tape is out now as well, so we will see whether or not teams are able to attack him differently having noticed their tendencies as a play caller and QB combo.
As long as their running game is churning and Purdy acts as the “point guard” of this offense and can get his playmakers the ball in space, I think he’ll remain successful. As one of the more creative and successful offensive minds in the NFL today, I also trust Coach Kyle to put him in the best positions to succeed.
The 49ers Defense is going to be a top tier group, that you can write in stone. The true test will be if the 49ers get down early, and/or if their running game is getting stymied can Purdy make enough plays with his arm to lead them to a comeback victory. Personally, I think he’s very capable, as long as he limits his mistakes, but that will be the wait and see part we are all are waiting for.
The pass rush should be fierce let’s hope the secondary can hold on and the run d can be average to above average. Mccafrey gives them huge advantages in the run game so hopefully this team can win 12-13 games and make a run for it
Let’s hope there’s no bountygate on Nick Bosa from one of the division rival coaches. With that much salary on one player, if he’s out and still sucking cap space, the 49ers are sunk for years.
This move looks like betting your entire house on one throw of the dice.
Purdy has one really nice year old n college otherwise he was the picture of mediocre.
The problem is not Purdy, the problem is spending $35 million/year on a single player. Bad enough on a QB, worse if it’s one member of the defense. If this becomes a trend, there will be real trouble all over the NFL with teams playing only rookies and a couple of $30 million guys on defense. This won’t lead to good football for fans, nor to good careers for players.
Distribution of salary has be more equitable. A maximum amount any single player can earn would go a long way to improving the league. Players would stay with their draft team much longer, more vets would get fair contracts.
If only corporate America operated that way
GM logic says ‘in years to come this salary will diminish relative to salary cap’. It’ll be a couple years before SF has to put out big for QB, which in a bigger expense, so they can saddle the Bosa stud and ride him hard when he’s broken down they’ll find another.
He’s not worth twice what Fred Warner makes, who did a contract restructuring to allow the Niners more cap room. Yes, he’s the best at his position, and yes, the market and the Niners’ handling of this situation may have driven the cost to this level, but this also ensures that Lynch will have to jettison other players this offseason as a result of giving Bosa this much money.
Absolutely. No way the 49ers can pay a single star this kind of money and balance the rest of the roster in the long term. Nick Bosa has just eaten everyone else’s lunch.
With the fiasco of the Trey Lance trade-up and trade-out now to the Cowboys, the 49ers do not seem a very well run organisation. A bit of patience would help to build a long-term contender.
makes it easier when you have a 2nd year 7th round qb
What happens if that experiment fails?
s creek w/o a paddle
They’ve already been a longterm contending team, and that’s why they already have five or six guys that are at or near the top of salaries for their positions.
With the salary cap, that is just the nature of the beast. The NFL has things structured this way to help promote parity.
Their depth will be hurt by the Lance trade mistake, but they’ve also already made countless great acquisitions and investments compared to where this team was when John Lynch and Kyle Shannahan originally took over.
I think a lot of fans forget it wasn’t all that long ago the 49ers were a walking punchline with Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly.
I don’t know. Bosa is a fan favorite, and for good reason, but it is very hard to have THAT amount of money tied into a single player. We have begrudgingly accepted it with quarterbacks, given their impact on the game under today’s rules, but any other player is difficult to accept…especially after watching Jawaan Taylor blatantly set up in the backfield all game long against Aidan Hutchinson on Thursday and false start the entire night without getting called. If the league is okay with that, as it has been in recent play, star pass rushers are even more neutered at getting to star QBs.
As for the salary increasing, we’ll yes, it has done so nearly every year. Huge contracts are still huge contracts. In three years, Bosa’s deal will still be top five. Is the value from Bosa’s play worth what a trade could have wrangled them? If the 9ers had nabbed two first round picks, plus perhaps a couple of lower picks, would it have been worth it?
You’d have to think that at least one of those picks would be used on a replacement, who would probably be inferior(but likely still good). So, in my mind, one of those picks is a wash. What could San Fran do with the rest? Where do they need it? That’s what you’d have to consider when dealing a player of Bosa’s caliber. What can we expect to get, and how can we use that to elevate the whole team? Kittle is getting up there, and planning for a replacement could be one option. Williams, like Kittle, is still playing at a high level, but likely will need replacement. I don’t Jusczyk can be replaced in today’s NFL, honestly. Purdy will show this year whether he can be the long term quarterback, or whether the 9ers will have to try again. The secondary will also show whether they require investment.
There are areas where more picks could be useful. At this price, I have to admit that I lean towards the picks. But it’s hard to see that absence on the D-line and not feel apprehensive. The 9ers, much more most teams, have been relying on their D-line to be the foundation of their success as the offense transitioned, and used it pressure high level offenses in the playoffs in the Garappolo years. Without Bosa, that doesn’t happen as effectively. Is it worth paying him to be the quarterback of the team? I suppose we’ll see, but that’s what the 9ers are counting on. If they don’t have a stud first round QB, they will use their star DE to cancel out the opponents’. Whether that will work in today’s NFL, we will see.
The cap is expected to jump significantly, this deal takes that into account.
Well the chiefs and Jones just got further apart now
He’s sitting half a year for sure now
I don’t see how it’s possible to pay Bosa & your future QB that much money and still build a winning roster.
The quarterback only has cap hits of 889,000, 1.0 million and 1.1 million the next 3 seasons. Thats how.
Look at the yearly cap hits. 11, 14 and 20 are not that big of a deal. Restructure when it goes up to 40.
I know cap can be manipulated but that’s a lot of money for one guy. I guess it helps when your QB is Mr irrelevant.
Look at the yearly cap hits. 11, 14 and 20 are not that big of a deal.
What’s the over/under on the number of years before SF tries to trade away Bosa to get their cap back in order? I say two (though one isn’t out of the realm of possibility).
Being only 25, they expect him to play the deal out if not have an extension before its up. They have a firm grip on the cap. Thats why they are 23 million under the cap this year and still under for next year.
They won’t trade him, but in 3 years when the 40M cap hit shows up, they will restructure him. Like every other team always does.
Niners window is closing. They won’t be able to maintain and pay everyone very very soon. Deebo. Kittle. Bosa. Etc. they can’t do it for too long
Its called restructuring contracts
It can’t work for everyone
Every qb in the league just told their agent they want a new deal for $73 million a year.
2 more years away from having to deal with a QB contract.
Unless this year’s inexperienced crew of QBs go down in flames…
Family must be happy. Joey might be a bit jealous
Have the holdout “fees” ever not been waived?
They are not allowed to “waive” them anymore. That is why lots of players do a “hold-in” rather than a “hold out”. Jonathan Taylor is a great example of reporting to camp but then just not playing. He isn’t missing any money that way.
There are a TON of blissful commenters on this story.
Well…ignorance = bliss!