General manager John Lynch acknowledged that fining Nick Bosa $40,000 daily won't lure him to 49ers training camp and that he remains confident a new contract will be crafted.
SANTA CLARA — Nick Bosa risks a $40,000 daily fine for missing 49ers training camp, and, a week into it, he is not here.
The 49ers, however, are not looking to tax the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
“I don’t think that’s really necessary. That’s not going to get him in here,” general manager John Lynch said of potential fines before Monday’s practice. “We’re both striving for the same thing.”
That “thing” is a contract extension that should make Bosa the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback four seasons into his career, which started with him winning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2019 as the No. 2 overall draft pick.
“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. We have a really good track record that I’m proud of, of having our players in, but I also understand that we have to exhibit patience and 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,” Lynch added. “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.”
Bosa became a team captain last year, and he responded by leading the NFL with a career-high 18 1/2 sacks. His leadership has also gained traction in recent years, including his weekly address to the team on the eve of games.
Neither Bosa nor his agent, Brian Ayrault, has publicly commented since camp began last Tuesday, which is when Lynch indicated all parties have chosen to keep details private about their contract talks.
Bosa is entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, at an $18 million base salary. He figures to challenge Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams for the NFL’s high-water mark in annual salary, over $32 million; Lynch declined to confirm that.
Two years ago, Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt reported to camp but did not practice nor play in preseason games before agreeing to his contract extension only days before the season opener.
How much time will Bosa need to prepare for the season?
“You always have to strike that right balance,” Lynch said. “Nick is a specimen because he was blessed with some really good genes and he works as hard as anyone I’ve ever seen in this game. His plan is meticulous and is adjusted each year.”
Lynch, a Pro Football Hall of Fame safety, said he “needed training camp” each year and that the 49ers have had internal discussions about how much time Bosa needs to prepare for the season.
Monday, Bosa missed out on camp’s first practice in full pads, and in reuniting with a defensive line that’s been bolstered on the interior by Javon Hargrave’s free agency addition and Javon Kinlaw’s healthy comeback.
“We don’t have our guy here yet,” Arik Armstead said of Bosa. “But we have a great group, and we have to keep grinding and getting better. They invest (money) up front and we know a lot of games are going to be on our shoulders to win. We accept that responsibility.”
Lynch spoke Monday to reporters because, as he explained it, he and coach Kyle Shanahan have an agreement for Lynch to retreat into the shadows once the season begins to streamline the organization’s collective voice; Lynch does appear on KNBR 680-AM radio every other week during the season.
Lynch said no team has approached the 49ers trying to trade for any of the team’s quarterbacks, yet he can’t envision keeping four quarterbacks on the active roster. He noted that a fourth could linger on the practice squad, and Brandon Allen would seemingly be the only candidate, considering Lynch and Darnold should be roster-worthy either here or on 31 other clubs.
Lynch repeatedly said he is proud of Lance, the 2021 No. 3 overall pick, for his attitude, leadership and resiliency. What about his actual playing ability? Lynch, who initially went to Stanford as a quarterback, said Lance has improved in terms of throwing with a better base and better mechanics.
“Those things are showing up on the field,” Lynch said, before Lance went out and had a 10-of-12 passing day.
“There’s going to be days where (Brock Purdy) is not out there. There’s going to be ample opportunities for each of these guys to show who they are.”
In the wake of Darnold’s 8-of-10 practice Sunday, Lynch said: “The light bulb kind of came on. He had a really good practice and you could see things kind of slow down. You could see the talent, the big-time thrower that he can be.”
Lynch, two years after his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction, is expected to attend this weekend’s festivities in Canton to welcome in a class that includes former Tampa Bay Buccaneers teammate Ronde Barber.
“You talk about splash plays, the guy made as many as I’ve ever seen,” Lynch said. “He always kind of had that chip on his shoulder. He was Tiki’s brother. Everyone talked about Tiki. Everyone knew about Tiki. Nobody knew about the other guy.”
Lynch said he will be part of Barber’s ceremony, putting the gold Hall of Fame jacket on his former teammate. He lauded Barber’s versatility over the period they played together from 1997-2003.
“He stacked plays, he stacked years, he did it at corner, he did it at nickel, kind of redefined the nickel position,” Lynch said of Barber. “And then late in his career, he just went and made safety look easy. Was as physically and mentally as tough a player as I’ve ever been around, couldn’t be happier.”
While top draft pick Ji’Ayir Brown has had to make “somewhat of an adjustment” as a rookie safety, Lynch said the 49ers are “very pleased” with him as he learns from Tashaun Gipson, Talanoa Hufanga, George Odum and assistant coach Daniel Bullocks.
The rookie defensive back who has come on stronger is the undrafted D’Shawn Jamison. “He showed up in a big way. … He’s going to start to see more of those opportunities,” Lynch added.
Deebo Samuel
Lynch applauded Deebo Samuel for getting in “tremendous shape” and translating that into practice; Samuel leveled safety George Odum on a play Monday.
“Deebo is a unique player, plays with a unique will and spirit,” Lynch said. “Really proud of him, the work he put in, and it’s going to pay dividends for him and for our team.”
After a near-invisible rookie season, wide receiver Danny Gray is off to an up-and-down camp.
“Danny brings something that every team covets, that we especially covet at the wide receiver position, and that’s speed,” Lynch said. “And it’s their impact on the field, sometimes opening up other people. The other thing we saw with Danny was a really tough football player.”
Lynch believes more repetitions in camp will bring out more than just “glimpses” of Gray’s potential.
Drafted 12 spots ahead of Gray in the third round was running back Ty Davis-Price, and he’s off to an impressive sophomore camp.
“Man, it’s been a complete turnaround,” said Lynch, who noticed that first-hand when he recently showed up at team headquarters for his personal workout at 5 a.m.
“There was one guy in the locker room: It was Ty Davis-Price. I don’t know what the hell he was doing here at 5 a.m. but he was here and you’re seeing it on the field. He’s hitting the hole. He’s hitting it with the aggressiveness and that downhill style that we like and he’s made himself a better receiver in the pass game. He’s made himself a better blocker in the run game. And Ty’s the type of player who’s going to shine more when the pads come on because he plays with a tremendous physicality.”
