The 49ers announced Wednesday perhaps their easiest decision of the coming year. They exercised the fifth-year option on defensive tackle DeForest Buckner’s contract, ensuring he’ll be under contract for the 2020 season.
This doesn’t necessarily mean Buckner will show up for training camp in his fifth year, and it doesn’t rule out the club working out a long-term deal with the 2016 first-round pick. However, with the season drawing closer, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see talks on an extension tabled until next offseason.
All indications are San Francisco wants Buckner to sign a multi-year deal, but his price tag could wind up being steep for an interior defensive lineman. That could make for a rough negotiation, especially when considering Buckner shares an agent with Khalil Mack.
Mack held out to start his fifth year, and appeared ready to extend his holdout into the regular season. Oakland traded the star defensive end to Chicago before the season started.
The 49ers’ willingness to play ball with Buckner may hinge on whether he backs up his sensational 2018 campaign with an equally great, or better, 2019 season. Another 12-plus sacks makes it difficult to not make him one of the highest-paid defensive players in the league. A down year with added reinforcements in the pass rush may result in San Francisco putting a cap on what they’re willing to dish out long term.
This will be a situation worth closely monitoring throughout this season and into next offseason. Exercising Buckner’s fifth-year option was a no-brainer choice for the 49ers’ front office. Extending him with a massive contract in the next two offseasons will be the more difficult decision.
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