The San Francisco 49ers kicked off their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, which means defensive end Nick Bosa finally reported to the team. The NFL Defensive Player of the Year has been training in Florida and didn't participate in organized team activities (OTAs). He didn't practice on Tuesday either, but he was in attendance.
Of course, none of that is out of the ordinary for the talented pass rusher.
Wednesday will be the final minicamp practice. The team will likely gather for a family day on Thursday before breaking for the summer.
Bosa is entering his fifth NFL season and will undoubtedly soon become the NFL's highest-paid defensive player. The two sides are working towards a contract extension, and the defensive end is confident that something will be done before the 49ers report back to Santa Clara for training camp in late July or right around that time. How high is that confidence?
"It's pretty high," Bosa responded. "Yeah, I think I'm pretty confident about that."
In January, Bosa stated that he isn't necessarily seeking to become the NFL's highest-paid defender. Does he still feel the same way now that over four months have passed since that comment?
"I think I'll get what I deserve," Bosa said.
Bosa and the 49ers getting a deal done sooner rather than later would eliminate any training camp distractions. The team can actually save money on this year's salary cap by offloading much of Bosa's salary into future seasons, as they often do with big contracts. They'll ensure the defensive end gets a significant payday immediately, though, in the form of a signing bonus that can be spread across the length of the deal.
What were the conversations between head coach Kyle Shanahan and Bosa like upon the defender's arrival this week?
"Same as they all are every year," the coach responded. "'How you doing? How's the workout been going? How's Florida? How's the boat? You look tan. Your legs still look big. What are you going to do today?' He'll probably be in the weight room."
Shanahan added, "Nick, he's not a guy I really ever worry about, whether it's a contract year or not. And I know Nick's doing his work. I know Nick is obsessive with his job and obsessive with being the best he can be, so it's usually pretty easy with that stuff. We don't even need to mention the contract. It's more the same conversation I've had the last three years with him when he comes in."
