49ers' Nick Bosa Among NFL's Top 5 Most Concerning Contracts for 2026

The San Francisco 49ers currently boast the highest salary cap space in the NFL, estimated at approximately $71.7 million, according to Over the Cap. However, not all contracts on their roster are viewed favorably. In a recent evaluation by Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon, Nick Bosa's five-year, $170 million extension has been identified as the fourth-worst contract heading into the 2026 season.

Bosa signed this landmark deal in September 2023, a move aimed at solidifying the team's defense with $122.5 million guaranteed. The contract was a recognition of his exceptional 2022 performance, where he was crowned the Defensive Player of the Year after leading the NFL with 18.5 sacks and 48 quarterback hits. Nonetheless, concerns have emerged as the 28-year-old's performance has declined significantly over the past two seasons.

After his standout year, Bosa's sack count fell to 10.5 in 2023, and he recorded just 35 quarterback hits. His struggles continued into 2024, where he managed only nine sacks across 14 games. The situation worsened in 2025 when he suffered a torn ACL during his third game, limiting him to a mere 17 tackles and two sacks. This marked the second major knee surgery of his career, following a previous ACL injury in 2020.

The contract's complexity is compounded by its salary cap implications. The 49ers restructured Bosa's deal, converting $21.47 million of his 2026 salary into a signing bonus, thus reducing his cap hit for the current year by $17.17 million. However, this adjustment increased his future cap hit by $4.29 million, creating potential financial strain for the team.

If the 49ers decide to part ways with Bosa after the 2026 season, they would incur a staggering dead money penalty of nearly $50 million. This situation effectively locks him into the team for the 2027 season, where he is projected to carry a cap hit of $54.9 million—the highest among all defensive players in the league. While Bosa remains a top-tier athlete when healthy, his recent output raises concerns about the value of this substantial investment.