Fooch’s update: The 49ers announced the contract extension. They included quotes from GM Trent Baalke and NaVorro Bowman.
Baalke: “Over the last six years, NaVorro has become a cornerstone of our organization and securing his future in the Bay Area was a priority for us,” said general manager Trent Baalke. “The perseverance he displayed while overcoming adversity and returning to his All-Pro form provides a great example of what can be accomplished through hard work and self-belief. This contract extension reaffirms our core philosophy of rewarding our own players and we are thrilled to know NaVorro will play his entire career with the 49ers.”
Bowman: “I want to thank Jed, the York family and Trent for giving me the opportunity to continue my career where my heart is,” said Bowman. “I appreciate the hard work that Drew and Paraag put in to getting this deal done. My teammates and coaches have meant so much to me throughout my career and I thank them for helping me become the player I am today. The support I’ve received from my family and friends throughout my life, especially through the adversity of the past few years, has meant so much to me. I can’t wait for the season to start and play in front of the best fans in the NFL.”
Well, apparently Drew Rosenhaus had a very specific reason to be in Santa Clara this week. Adam Schefter and Pro Football Talk are reporting the San Francisco 49ers have agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension with linebacker NaVorro Bowman.
Both are reporting the extension is worth $44 million, with $20 million in guarantees. There are is no word yet on the specifics of the guarantees, whether they are full, injury, or rolling guarantees. More than likely they are a mix of those. The 49ers already had Bowman under contract through 2018. According to PFT, the team gave Bowman a raise over the next three years so it is essentially a seven-year, $77 million deal. The four years added on would mean he is signed through 2022.
Bowman is currently 28, and will be 34 when this deal ends. Last year he made his return from a torn ACL and MCL. He showed signs of rust but took a step forward as the season moved along. The team seems comfortable with the state of his knee, and expects him to continue stepping forward. Of course, if he struggles in the future, as with most deals, there are likely opportunities to get out of the deal along the way.