49ers news: Nick Bosa, Joey Bosa both in a Niners uniform one day?

It’s been discussed before, but what if the 49ers somehow managed to have both Nick Bosa and his brother, Joey Bosa, on the same team at the same time?

Not terribly long ago, Niner Noise broached the thought of having San Francisco 49ers All-Pro EDGE Nick Bosa join forces with his older brother, Joey Bosa, of the Los Angeles Chargers.

It’d be awfully difficult, yes. But the thought would be fun.

Heck, even Nick Bosa thought it’d be neat at some point down the line. Yet he remained more focused on the reachable goals at hand.

2022 proved to be one of those goal-reaching years for the younger Bosa. Finishing with a league-high 19.5 sacks, the Niners’ top pass-rusher was also named last year’s Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts.

And that’ll result in an eventual payday that could make him the richest non-quarterback in the league, currently.

Meanwhile, down in Southern California, Joey Bosa had a frustrating campaign that saw him play in only five regular-season games, snapping his streak of Pro Bowls at three and raising some questions about his long-term durability.

While no one would wish any sort of injury on either Bosa brother, injuries may be the only way that the two wind up playing with each other on the same team anytime soon.

Nick Bosa thinks Joey Bosa on 49ers would ‘break the NFL’

Nick Bosa joined former San Francisco cornerback Richard Sherman on the Richard Sherman Podcast recently, and one of the subjects that came up was the possibility of Joey Bosa heading up to Northern California to sign with the 49ers.

Yeah, even Nick Bosa was enticed at the thought of having his older brother on the same defensive line (h/t NBC Sports Bay Area).

“I think him on the other side [of the D-line], it might break the NFL,” Bosa said.

The chances of that happening, however, are awfully slim.

49ers can’t afford Nick Bosa, Joey Bosa under the same salary cap

Bosa is poised to earn a contract extension that’ll net at least $30 million annually, setting a new record for outside pass-rushers that will exceed the contract given out to Pittsburgh Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt ($28 million).

Joey Bosa, meanwhile, once led the NFL in biggest defensive contracts with an annual average of $27 million, and it’s important to note both he and Nick Bosa are represented by the same agent.

Related Story: Nick Bosa should easily receive a new extension worth $30 million per year

Having two premiere edge rushers making between $27 million and $30 million, annually, would only work if a team has a quarterback on a cheap rookie contract (the Niners have this, currently) and some bare-bones deals elsewhere on the roster.

However, with top money being paid out to Pro Bowl and All-Pro stars like left tackle Trent Williams, tight end George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner and wide receiver Deebo Samuel, dishing out money to both Bosa brothers isn’t affordable.

At least for a salary cap that’s at $224.8 million, currently.

That said, should either Bosa wind up dealing with serious injuries that’d otherwise derail a financial stock value, perhaps a team like San Francisco could afford to have both on the roster at the same time.

Since no one wants to plan on that being the case, though, it’s probably best to leave the fun thought as it is. That’s what Nick Bosa is doing:

"I think Joey is going to come in and have a big year this year and we’re going to be competing for it, so I’m excited. It’s just cool that we’re here and we’ve reached our goals, but there’s more to reach."

Well put.