Nick Bosa of the 49ers Accepts Landmark Contract, Emerges as NFL’s Highest-Paid Defensive Player Ever

Nick Bosa of the 49ers agrees to historic deal, becomes NFL’s highest-paid defensive player in history

Nick Bosa, the reigning defensive player of the year and a three-time Pro Bowler, has just inked a jaw-dropping contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers.

With a remarkable 18.5 sacks in the 2022 season, Bosa is now cashing in on his status as an elite pass rusher. ESPN has reported that on Wednesday, he agreed to a whopping five-year, $170 million extension.

This historic deal catapults Bosa into NFL history as the highest-paid defensive player, leaving Pittsburgh Steelers’ star edge rusher T.J. Watt’s four-year, $112 million extension from last year trailing far behind.

The groundwork for this contract had been laid when San Francisco exercised the fifth-year option on Bosa in 2022. Negotiations for a long-term deal between the team and Bosa’s representatives had been in the works for some time. Bosa made it clear that he was holding out until he secured a lucrative new agreement.

Back in March 2022, 49ers General Manager John Lynch had hinted at their intention to extend Bosa’s contract, along with star wide receiver Deebo Samuel.

Lynch had told reporters that “We have a plan for each of those guys,” while keeping the specifics secret. But as I’ve often said, those guys will remain a part of us for a very, very long time. They are outstanding athletes. They form a significant portion of who we are and are fantastic players and people in addition to being at the centre of who we are.

Now that Bosa’s deal appears to be sealed, his holdout is likely to come to an end, and he may even take the field for the Niners’ season opener against the Steelers on Sept. 10.

Notably, Bosa’s contract comes with a staggering $122.5 million in guarantees, as per ESPN’s report.

Bosa had expressed optimism for the deal’s success in June, saying, “It’s pretty high. Yes, I believe I am fairly certain of that. I believe I will receive what I deserve.

This significant agreement should help ease some of the recent concerns surrounding the Niners franchise. The team had recently traded Trey Lance, a player they had hoped would develop into their franchise quarterback, and rookie kicker Jake Moody had a tumultuous preseason.

Under the terms of Bosa’s fifth-year option, the 49ers were slated for a $17.9 million salary-cap hit, but with the extension in place, this figure is expected to decrease, though the exact amount will be revealed once the full contract details are disclosed to the public.