San Francisco 49ers fans just want Nick Bosa signed already so the pass-rushing phenom can be available for the regular-season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. There's no telling when a deal might get finalized, though, as both sides are keeping the negotiation details in-house.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport joined NFL Network on Tuesday morning. He didn't offer any insight into the progress of the negotiations but did break down why a deal like this has been so complicated for the Niners.
"This is a hard contract to do," Rapoport said. "My understanding is the 49ers are already over $30 million per year. They're already over [Steelers edge] T.J. Watt. He is going to be the highest-paid pass rusher in the NFL. That is not the question. The question is, does he beat [Rams DT] Aaron Donald's contract of $[31.7] million?
"... But that's not just it. There was a $5 million roster bonus that Aaron Donald got when he decided not to retire. So how to account for that, which is spread out over the years, it's extremely complicated, and trying to figure out where Aaron Donald came in will help get this deal done. But the two sides obviously have a disconnect in how it's configured."
Rapoport also believes that a holdout into the season is undoubtedly a possibility. That would significantly impact last year's No. 1 ranked defense, which depends on Bosa frustrating opposing quarterbacks. The 49ers hope he is available to do so against second-year player Kenny Pickett this weekend.
"The Bosas take their value extremely seriously, from the top, from the father to [Chargers edge] Joey Bosa to Nick Bosa," Rapoport said. "If there was one family that could ever hold out into the season, this would be it. I don't know that that's going to happen, but I'm just saying this is one family that believes what they believe and will take that stance, like, essentially, Nick Bosa has done."
From The Insiders on NFL+: The clock also ticks for the #49ers and star edge Nick Bosa... pic.twitter.com/aB0vB4iEyr
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 5, 2023
