The San Francisco 49ers have started their training camp, but defensive end Nick Bosa is still absent.
However, General Manager John Lynch expressed no concern about reaching a contract agreement with Bosa, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.
Lynch acknowledged the absence of one of their best players but also highlighted the need for patience, believing that the situation will ultimately be resolved.
Bosa is currently holding out as he awaits the completion of a lucrative contract extension that is expected to make him the highest-paid defender in NFL history. He is in the final year of his rookie contract, which he signed in 2019.
Watch Lynch explain below:
“We’re just going to have to have that right mix of urgency and patience.”
John Lynch is confident Nick Bosa's contract extension will get worked out pic.twitter.com/GAA89n6K5O
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) July 31, 2023
Last year, the 49ers and Bosa agreed to postpone extension discussions. In the meantime, Bosa had an outstanding season, leading the league in sacks, earning various accolades, and solidifying his case for a substantial contract.
The contract Bosa is seeking would surpass the $31.67 million annual average of Los Angeles Rams’ defensive tackle Aaron Donald and the $80 million in full guarantees received by Pittsburgh Steelers’ edge rusher T.J. Watt.
However, Bosa claimed he hadn’t given much thought to becoming the highest-paid defender and would see how negotiations play out. Despite training with his brother Joey in Florida during the offseason, Bosa attended San Francisco’s mandatory minicamp in June, expressing optimism that a deal would be reached before or shortly after training camp.
This timeline has worked for other notable 49ers players like George Kittle, Fred Warner, and Deebo Samuel, who secured lucrative contracts around the start of camp. Although fines of $40,000 per day for missed practices apply to Bosa, the CBA allows such fines to be waived for first-round draft picks in their fifth-year option.
The 49ers plan to waive the fines as a gesture of good faith and stated that they do not want to use fines as a bargaining tool.
At present, the 49ers do not believe Bosa’s absence from training camp is a major concern. However, they do note that there will come a point where they would like him back to get into football shape, despite his reputation for excellent physical condition and limited participation in preseason games.
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