EDITOR'S UPDATE 8:15PM - I made a mistake in the initial post. MM's article only mentioned they had speculated previously that Sopoaga might get a deal similar to that of Jay Ratliff. Ratliff was the one with the 5 year deal, NOT Sopoaga. It's still possible Sopoaga gets the same type of deal, but in the meantime, no numbers have been released. My apologies.

Thanks to enut21 for making the first call on this story. Matt Maiocco confirms this with financial details. Isaac Sopoaga will return to the 49ers after reaching a deal at 5 years, $20.5 million and an $8 million signing bonus.

It should be interesting to see how this affects Aubrayo Franklin's playing time going forward. Although it sounds like the early cap number isn't too much, this is definitely not a contract you give to somebody who will be spending a significant amount of time on the bench. Thoughts on the deal?

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

49ERS KEEP SOPOAGA by Michael David Smith

Adam Schefter of NFL Network is reporting that the San Francisco 49ers have reached a contract agreement with nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga.

The 49ers' fourth-round draft pick in 2004 out of the University of Hawaii, Sopoaga had been scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on Friday. Per Schefter, the new contract is a five-year deal. No financial details are available.

Sopoaga played in all 16 games for the 49ers in 2007, starting five and recording 20 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Although he has only been a part-time player for the 49ers, the 325-pound Sopoaga is a good fit at nose tackle in coach Mike Nolan's 3-4 defense, and getting a new deal done for him before free agency began was reportedly one of the 49ers' top priorities.