Urgency is Steadily Increasing for the 49ers With Nick Bosa's Extension
Nick Bosa was a no show on the 49ers first day of pads in training camp.
It should come as no surprise since a deal has not been struck yet. This time last year, the 49ers were able to come to terms on an extension with Deebo Samuel as he conducted his own holdout. Negotiating Bosa's extension, however, presents more challenges since elite pass rushers cost exponentially more than an elite wide receiver. It is going to take more time to crunch his contract for the next several years.
Urgency is steadily increasing for the 49ers with Bosa's extension as his holdout reaches seven days. General manager John Lynch cited that urgency is being felt, but that there isn't a panic as he remains confident that a deal with Bosa will get done.
"I'll just tell you, we have to strike the right mix of urgency," Lynch said. "I don't like this. I don't like not having one of our best players here. But I also understand it and understand that we're going to have to exhibit some patience and understand that ultimately this thing will work out. I'm very confident in that and we're just going to have to have that right mix of urgency and patience."
It isn't so much that Lynch and the 49ers are fearful of a deal not getting done. Lynch was asked if there was any fear of that and immediately shut that down, so that isn't the case here. But the sense of urgency is so that they can get Bosa in training camp with adequate time for him to get back into the thick of things. When the 49ers were negotiating an extension with Samuel last year, he came into training camp extremely out of shape and it took a long time for him to ease back into the offense.
There's a chance that can happen to Bosa too, and that is why I think Lynch talks about having the "right mix of urgency" to extend him as soon as they can. They don't want the majority of training camp to have gone by without him participating, which could cause him to start the regular season off slow.
"I think there's a point that everybody, as long as I played, in year 13, people used to ask, do you need training camp? I needed three weeks. I needed that to get ready," said Lynch. "And so, I don't know what that right time period, we've talked a lot about it internally, but I think that's important to give yourself the best chance to not only play at the highest level, but to stay healthy and get yourself primed and ready, calloused to play.”
The 49ers do have the option to fine Bosa as a means to get him into training camp. To avoid fines last year, Samuel conducted a "hold in" by showing up to the facility, but holding himself out of practice. So, as much as the idea of fines could get him to show up, it is not like he is going to practice. It's really a moot point to even attempt that and potentially cause a rift in the relationship they have with him.
"We have the ability to forgive those fines," said Lynch. "But we have talked with their camp on that and look, I don't think that's really necessary. That's not going to get him in here. We're both striving for the same thing, so we'll focus on that.”
Last week, I wrote about what the concern level should be for the 49ers with Bosa's holdout. I think it is still at a minimal level of concern despite it being seven days already. That will only creep up into panic mode as the first preseason game draws closer, but until then, Lynch and the 49ers are not worried that a deal won't get done soon.
"I remain confident that we will come to an agreement and get things taken care of so we can have one of our best players, one of the best teammates, this is the guy that addresses our team every Saturday and just gives his wisdom. We miss him and looking forward to the day he's coming back."
