Bowman deal good news for all.
SANTA CLARA — NaVorro Bowman was happy to hear Thursday how his latest contract extension went over inside the 49ers locker room.
After all, several other players are hoping to strike new deals, and general manager Trent Baalke has vowed to spend from their $49 million in salary-cap space before Bowman’s deal Wednesday night.
“I’ve had several guys walk up to me and say this is motivation for them,” Bowman said at training camp. “It’s win-win situations for all us, to show guys
it’s possible, but you have to put your work in and do your job.”
Potential starters who are entering their final season under contract are quarterback Blaine Gabbert, defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, wide receiver Quinton Patton and linebacker Michael Wilhoite.
Perhaps more ripe for extensions before the Sept. 12 season opener is the pack of players with two years left on their deals: running back Carlos Hyde, center Daniel Kilgore, wide receiver Bruce Ellington and defensive backs Eric Reid, Jimmie Ward, Tramaine Brock, Dontae Johnson, Keith Reaser and Kenneth Acker.
Gabbert and Hyde might be the offense’s top priority because of their positions. Defensively, Reid stands out as a dealin-waiting, and Baalke has said the 49ers want to, indeed, extend their 2013 top draft pick.
What does Bowman’s deal signal to Reid?
“Well, that they’re willing to do it, which is exciting for me, personally,” Reid responded. “But it’s not something I’m really worried about. Right now I’m trying to focus on making myself better and this team better.”
In May, the 49ers exercised Reid’s fifth-year option for the 2017 season. Reid said he’s not aware of any progress toward a long-term deal with his agent, Ben Dogra.
Baalke has long preached that the 49ers’ top priority is to take care of their homegrown talent, and earlier this year, they extended defensive tackle Quinton Dial and tight end Garrett Celek through 2019.
“It just shows they truly believe in the guys they drafted to get the job done,” Dial said Thursday. “It’s something we take a lot of pride in.”
Bowman had three seasons remaining on an extension he signed in 2012. That deal, Bowman revealed Thursday, came at a discounted price because he did not want to earn more than fellow linebacker Patrick Willis.
“Out of respect for Pat, I took a little less and understood this was his team at the time,” Bowman said. “I’ve accomplished a lot since that time and made huge accolades.
“For me asking (now) for the deal, they understood why,” said Bowman, who agreed to a four-year, $44 million extension. “I knew it wasn’t a popular thing to do so with three years left. It’s basically about being fair. It shows how good of an organization they are to the players and fair for all the work I’ve put in.”
Even though the 49ers were mostly silent in free agency, Bowman applauded that “professional” approach and praised them for not overspending on outside players: “It’s about the morale of the team, and you as an organization trusting your players that you’re going to get better.”
Bowman joined the 49ers in 2010 as a thirdround draft pick, and after missing 2014 with a major knee injury, he returned last season to reclaim All-Pro, Pro Bowl and Ed Block Courage Award honors. He is halfway to his goal of playing at least 10 seasons, which he figures will be “good enough” to achieve his next goal: the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Defense won Thursday’s practice as Gabbert (4 of 13) and Kaepernick (6 of 14) struggled in 11-on11 drills. Each did get the ball in the end zone, Kaepernick doing so early on with a 50-yard strike to Torrey Smith. Gabbert’s best pass might have been a touchdown throw to DeAndrew White, who had his best day of camp.
n Several veteran wide receivers battled minor ailments Thursday: Smith (knee), Ellington (hand), Jerome Simpson (finger).