Jhelum Mehta
Week 1 of NFL free agency was absolute chaos. Deals were flying in left and right, with trades, surprise signings, and roster shakeups happening faster than fans can refresh their timelines. The Bay Area is feeling that same buzz as the San Francisco 49ers get to work on reshaping their roster for the 2026 season.
San Francisco has already been active on the open market, bringing in veteran wide receiver Mike Evans to bolster the offense while also reuniting with linebacker Dre Greenlaw. The front office added more depth up front as well, signing offensive linemen Vederian Lowe and Brett Toth to strengthen the trenches.
But it hasn’t just been about additions. The 49ers have also seen several departures as the organization continues to recalibrate the roster and get its salary cap in order heading into the new season. And now, the latest move out of Santa Clara involves a major decision from the front office regarding star pass rusher Nick Bosa.
San Francisco 49ers restructure Nick Bosa’s contract
NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported on X that the 49ers have reworked Nick Bosa’s contract, freeing up $17.172 million in cap space for the 2026 season. Despite the restructure, Bosa is still set to earn $23.18 million this year, while his 2027 cap hit now balloons to a massive $54,866,753.
The move comes at an interesting time for San Francisco’s defensive front.
Earlier this offseason, edge rusher Bryce Huff shocked the league by announcing his retirement at just 27. Huff, who joined the 49ers via trade in 2025, stepped away after a six-year NFL career that included 24 sacks and 108 total tackles. His sudden exit leaves the 49ers thinner in their pass-rush rotation and removes a key edge option opposite Bosa.
With Huff no longer in the picture, the 49ers quickly created some financial breathing room by restructuring Bosa’s deal — a move that could signal more roster moves coming as the front office reshapes the defensive line.
Could Nick Bosa Reunite with Joey Bosa in San Francisco?
Bosa has been the anchor of San Francisco’s defense since the team selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. He made an immediate impact, winning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and later cemented himself as one of the league’s most dominant pass rushers by capturing Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2022.
Interestingly, the 49ers were also viewed as a potential landing spot for Joey Bosa last offseason before he ultimately signed with the Buffalo Bills.
Now back on the market after finishing the 2025 season with five sacks and 54 pressures — ranking 24th among edge defenders with at least 100 pass-rush snaps, according to PFF — Spotrac estimates his market value at roughly $13.7 million per year.
If San Francisco were to make a move for Joey Bosa, the veteran could help take some of the workload off Leonard Williams, handling early-down snaps at defensive end while allowing the 2025 first-rounder to kick inside more often and focus on rushing the passer.
