The enormous new contract Nick Bosa signed lays the groundwork for the next group of 49ers players.

California’s SANTA CLARA — Defence end Nick Bosa has been among the San Francisco 49ers’ most crucial players ever since they selected him with the No. 2 overall choice in the 2019 NFL Draught.

The only thing that has changed in the more than four years since is that Nick Bosa has found a way to increase his significance to the Niners’ success. Nick Bosa signed a five-year, $170 million contract on Wednesday that includes $122.5 million in guarantees, eliminating any uncertainty about just how important he is to the 49ers. Bosa is now the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history thanks to the contract.

The 2023 49ers needed Bosa back immediately after a 43-day holdout that went longer than many anticipated. There is a solid case to be made that Bosa, the current NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is the player the Niners can least afford to lose. Bosa gives the Niners a chance to win the Super Bowl. Well, it’s much harder to imagine without him.

San Francisco is 43-17 in games Nick Bosa has played in since joining the league in 2019 and 5-10 in games he hasn’t, including postseason games. When Bosa is on the field, the 49ers have the second-lowest pressure rate in the league (25%) and the highest pressure rate in the league (32%). He’s anticipated to play on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium against the Pittsburgh Steelers (1 p.m. ET, Fox).

The worth of Nick Bosa goes beyond the here and now. Nick Bosa, who is currently under contract through the 2028 season, is not only the team’s best defender, but also the one tasked with bridging the gap between San Francisco’s current star-studded core and an up-and-coming squad that wants to extend their championship window past this year.

Coach Kyle Shanahan stated, “I believe everyone is a product of their environment, so everyone thinks they are based off of people they are around.” “You see how committed Bosa is to his craft, not only here but year-round, when you are around various people or when you think you are one way or another.

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And that, in my opinion, is what causes everyone to change. Everyone has a standard, and seeing others who have higher standards and perform at a higher level kind of raises everyone’s game and demonstrates what it takes to be this excellent in this league.

Bosa has accumulated 43 sacks, 156 tackles, 56 tackles for loss, and 106 quarterback hits in just 51 regular-season games, earning him the DPOY, Defensive Rookie of the Year, three Pro Bowl berths, and first-team All-Pro honours. For opposing quarterbacks and offensive linemen, what is the terrifying reality? On October 23, Bosa will be 26.

Bosa is thus just beginning his prime. His work ethic and discipline are frequently praised by teammates and coaches, so there is no doubt that he will rejoin the squad in top shape and prepared to contribute right away. They believe Nick Bosa may be even better after a career year for the same reason.

Trent Williams, a left tackle, said that Bosa, who recorded 18.5 sacks in 2022, “probably will say that what he did last year wasn’t enough.” “I bet he’d claim he missed a couple sacks out there on the field, and I guarantee his major goal is to clear the table and leave nothing on it. Nick is not who he is and how he became this good because he sits back and takes it all for granted. Despite being his harshest critic, he is still motivated to improve. For guys, it’s really terrifying because he’s 25.”

Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner, who will turn 27 on November 19, are the team’s two most notable younger players on long-term contracts due to their relative youth and their long-term contracts. Whether Bosa and Warner can continue to produce at high levels on the field while serving as the role models for new Niners joining the organisation will determine whether the 49ers continue to be successful in the years to come.

Although they still have plenty of good football ahead of them, veterans like Williams (35), defensive tackles Javon Hargrave (30) and Arik Armstead (29), tight end George Kittle (29), fullback Kyle Juszczyk (32), receiver Deebo Samuel (27) and running back Christian McCaffrey (27) have probably already signed the biggest contracts of their careers, at least in San Francisco.