For the first time since they were drafted in 2019, both Nick Bosa and Deebo Samuel — the sterling, lynchpin selections that define the 49ers’ identity — are up for contract extensions this offseason.
There is an expectation of enormity for those deals, with Bosa one of the league’s best edge rushers — and voted the team’s MVP by coaches — and Samuel the most effective multi-use weapon in the league. Bosa is 24. Samuel is 26.
Suffice it to say, getting extensions done for those two players are of paramount importance to the 49ers, and as general manager John Lynch said with a smile on Tuesday, “they’ve been budgeted for.”
A major part of that budgeting is moving on from Jimmy Garoppolo, who San Francisco will save $24.1 million by trading or cutting.
There was a clear indication from the 49ers’ brass, and from Garoppolo himself — who offered a definitive goodbye — that a trade will occur this offseason.
Lynch expressed confidence that San Francisco will come to an agreement with the pair.
“With [Samuel] and Nick, we fully understand these guys are pillars of what we’re trying to do here,” Lynch said. “We’ve been blessed that we’ve been aggressive because we’ve had a lot of players that we believe are some of the best in the league at what they do. And these guys are no different.
“We have really good lines of communication with their representatives. Those will continue, not going to put any timelines on it. But obviously, planning has been done to account for those guys and yes, there’s some interesting dynamics with with Deebo playing multiple positions, but the bottom line is, he’s an excellent football player. I’m sure that we’ll find a way to get that done and it’s been budgeted for.”
Both Lynch and Shanahan confirmed that they believe Samuel will remain in the so-called wide back role, similar to the one he embraced this past season.
While Shanahan said there has to be a bit of caution given the physicality of the running back position, he believes Samuel has the body of a running back and is built to carry that load going forward.