J.J. Watt has a unique perspective on the situation. He believes that while 49ers’ edge rusher Nick Bosa is on track to receive a record-setting contract, he may not necessarily be the best player on the field in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Wait, what?
Watt is looking out for his brother T.J. Watt, who is also an edge rusher for the Steelers and a premier pass rusher in his own right.
During a CBS conference call discussing the network’s NFL coverage for the upcoming season, Watt, a 12-year veteran and three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the Houston Texans, shared his insights. With 114 1/2 career sacks and potential Hall of Fame status, he brings a wealth of experience to the discussion.
Meanwhile, Bosa remains a holdout as the regular season quickly approaches on September 10th. It is widely expected that he will become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. As the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Bosa led the league with 18 1/2 sacks in 2022.
“Given the way the league operates, with the salary cap rising and contracts increasing every year, there is no doubt that Nick deserves a lucrative contract,” says J.J. Watt. “His contributions to the defense and his abilities on the field warrant the contract that is coming his way.”
However, Watt stopped short of claiming that Bosa is a superior player to his brother T.J. Watt. T.J. earned the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year title in 2021 with 22 1/2 sacks for the Steelers. Despite missing some games due to injury, he still managed to record 5 1/2 sacks last year.
“There’s no question that my brother is still the best defensive player,” J.J. adds. “But when it comes to contractual matters and how the league operates, I believe Nick is on track to become the highest-paid player in his position. That’s just the reality of the situation.”
Bosa is currently scheduled to earn $18 million on his fifth-year option, but he has no intention of playing under that number. In terms of the highest yearly average salary, the top 15 players in the NFL are all quarterbacks. The highest-paid non-quarterback is Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald at $31.6 million. T.J. Watt follows closely behind at No. 19 with a salary just over $28 million.
“The 49ers need Nick Bosa in their lineup. He is a game-changer,” says CBS analyst Boomer Esiason. “Nobody wreaks havoc on a game quite like T.J. Watt or Nick Bosa. You can’t forget about (Cleveland’s) Myles Garrett either.”
Although Bosa has missed all of the offseason and training camp, J.J. Watt believes that he will be ready for Week 1 if he signs and reports soon.
“Have you seen Nick Bosa? He looks like he trains in his sleep, so I think he’ll be just fine,” Watt comments. “Especially considering the position he plays. Speaking from personal experience, our position doesn’t require the sharpest tools in the shed. We’re simply told to ‘go get the ball.’ No need to study coverages or multiple assignments. The playbook is pretty straightforward for us big guys. I have no doubt that he’ll excel out there.”
Now it’s up to the 49ers to get Bosa signed and on the field.
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