Don’t ever accuse the San Francisco 49ers of being cheap again. The much-maligned organization just handed out a whopper of a deal to one of its best players.
According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, San Francisco signed All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman to a four-year, $44 million extension on Wednesday evening.
Per source, 49ers LB NaVorro Bowman agrees to terms on seven-year, $77M contract.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 4, 2016
The deal actually includes four new years to go with the three seasons he had remaining on his old contract. This means it’s $44 million of new money.
Bowman, 28, has earned All-Pro honors in each of the past four seasons he has suited up. Last year alone, the former Defensive Player of the Year candidate recorded 154 tackles, a forced fumble and 2.5 sacks.
Considered by most experts to be one of the top-three inside linebackers in the game, Bowman missed the entire 2014 campaign after suffering a serious knee injury in the NFC Championship game the year prior.
He, however, was able to return to form for what ended up being a struggling 49ers’ squad under now former head coach Jim Tomsula last season.
Bowman’s new average of $11 million per season now makes him the third highest-paid inside linebacker in the game. The deal is worth a reported $20 million guaranteed.