Source - 49ers' Nick Bosa is highest-paid defensive player - ESPN

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers and defensive end Nick Bosa have agreed to a five-year, $170 million extension that will make him the highest-paid defensive player in history, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday.

The extension includes $122.5 million guaranteed, the source told ESPN.

Among defensive players, the $34 million annual payout surpasses the $31.7 million average belonging to Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and the $122.5 million in guarantees easily surpasses the $102 million mark set by Bosa's brother, Joey, with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020.

It also comes before Sunday's regular-season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, meaning Nick Bosa could be available for that game.

That the Niners and Bosa eventually struck a deal is no surprise. That it took 43 days after the team opened training camp was.

San Francisco has made a habit of re-signing some of its big-name players either just before camp or soon after it opens. It followed a similar blueprint with tight end George Kittle in 2020, linebacker Fred Warner in 2021 and receiver Deebo Samuel in 2022.

However, Bosa's deal, the largest of that group, proved more complicated.

With an average annual salary of $34 million, the 49ers' Nick Bosa has set the new standard for contracts among non-quarterbacks in NFL history.

Coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch never expressed any doubt that a deal would get done and were adamant that trading Bosa was never an option.

For his part, Bosa, who generally prefers to do his offseason work with brother Joey in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, showed up at the team's June minicamp and reiterated his belief that his payday would come as long as he remained patient.

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