Nick Bosa expected to hold out amid contract dispute

It’s holdout season in the NFL, and San Francisco could be facing a big one as it continues to work out a potential Nick Bosa contract extension.

General manager John Lynch spoke out recently about the ongoing contract situation involving the defensive end, with training camp set to begin soon.

“I have not seen Nick,” Lynch said. “I would expect he’s not here to start off. We’re working. We’re having really good communication . . . We’re working diligently to try to come to an agreement. I think the challenge is you’re talking about a real special player. You’re talking about one of the better players in the league. You could argue that could simplify things, but I think at times it’s just finding that sweet spot.”

According to Spotrac.com, Bosa is in the fifth year of his original deal with San Francisco.

He’s set to make $17.86 million in base salary this year, but the goal is to work out a longer-term extension to keep him playing for the 49ers even longer. His production certainly justifies it.

Bosa is coming off an absolutely monster season, racking up 51 tackles, 19.0 tackles for a loss, 18.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass defended.

With a Nick Bosa contract extension on the table, his accolades will only help him negotiating. He was named the 2019 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He has been a three-time Pro Bowler and was a first-team All-Pro in 2022. He was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2022.

Needless to say, he’s a key piece for San Francisco.

The 49ers drafted Bosa with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, fresh out of Ohio State. While at Ohio State he was a first-team All-Big Ten and first-team All-American in 2017.

Bosa didn’t play much in his final season in Columbus, Ohio, suffering a core muscle injury that required surgery after just three games. Bosa withdrew from Ohio State and began preparing for the NFL Draft as a result.

So far, his NFL stint has been a dream, with Bosa coming off the two best seasons of his career as the Nick Bosa contract negotiations continue.