Financial friction stalls a high-stakes reunion in San Francisco as the 49ers refuse to overpay for the elite edge rusher despite ample cap space and family ties.
NFL star defensive end Joey Bosa and the San Francisco 49ers have received plenty of buzz on a potential free agent deal. And while nothing is tangible yet, there has been no lack of conversation about what the move could mean for both Bosa and the Niners.
The deal makes sense for everyone involved, but the 49ers are not really budging so far on the deal. Neither is Bosa. And while the Niners have the available money and cap space to make a deal like that happen, they are also being cautious that they allocate the right amount of money to Bosa should he sign with the team.
Utsav Jain of Essentially Sports updated the latest news on Bosa's contract. Jain wrote the following of what could be a great move for both teams.
"Last March, the San Francisco 49ers and Joey Bosa came very close. Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard reported the two sides were in 'good conversations,' with a moderate deal with incentives taking shape. Niners defensive end Nick Bosa, Joey’s younger brother, thought it might actually happen, 'maybe for 5 minutes on the phone.' But then the Buffalo Bills came in with a better offer, and Joey took the money. Now he’s a free agent again, his brother is still in San Francisco, and the question is back. Except now the family angle has packed up a new wrinkle.
NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco explained, on his mailbag segment this week, why the price gap between what Joey wants and what San Francisco will pay hasn’t closed… and it won’t.
'I wouldn’t close that door until Joey Bosa signed somewhere else, but I don’t see the 49ers at all raising the price that they’re willing to pay for Joey Bosa or any free agent just because they have that salary cap space,' Maiocco said."
Buffalo Bills defensive end Joey Bosa watches the offensive line on the field during second half action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov 16, 2025 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesPerhaps we should not assume that a deal will get done, but given the Niners need for an edge rusher it certainly makes sense that it would eventually work out for them. That said, they will need to get on the same page as Bosa if they want to make the deal done.
If San Francisco is able to add Bosa given what they have already done this offseason at receiver and offensive tackle, it all but vaults the team to the top of the NFL. We'll monitor whether or not they get it done.