Today, we continue our 9-part series showing how much of the 49ers 2022 salary cap a certain position group takes up, and today we continue with the defensive line.
Players Under Contract: DE Nick Bosa(2023), DE Samson Ebukam(2022), DT Arik Armstead(2024), NT Javon Kinlaw(2023), NT Hassan Ridgeway(2022), DE Kemoko Turay(2022), DE/DT Kerry Hyder Jr.(2022), DE Drake Jackson(2025), DE Dee Ford(2022), DE Alex Barrett(2022), DT Kevin Givens(2022), DT Maurice Hurst Jr.(2022), NT Kalia Davis(2025), NT Chris Slayton(2022), & DT Kevin Atkins(2024)
Total Cap Hit: $54,200,099
Let’s begin with the expected starters, Nick Bosa($10,805,564 against the cap), Samson Ebukam($8.25 million), Arik Armstead($9.576 million), & Javon Kinlaw($4,224,191), and I’m very confident in this front 4 starters, I think Bosa will have another breakout year, Armstead as well, & Ebukam will show he is worth keeping, while Kinlaw will stay healthy, & be a big time contributor.
Next are the main backups, Kemoko Turay($1.7 million), Kerry Hyder Jr.($1.5 million), Hassan Ridgeway($1.8 million), & rookie Drake Jackson($1,071,344), all who have had some very good to big years, Turay & Jackson provide depth at the LEO spot, Ridgeway at the NT spot, & Hyder behind both Bosa, & Armstead.
The players with the most likely chance of making the team will be battling it out for backup spots, Jordan Willis($970,000), Charles Omenihu($2.54 million), Maurice Hurst Jr.($945,000), & Kevin Givens($895,000), and hopefully they keep 11 defensive lineman, with 3 of these guys making it, with the other either practice squad or traded for a draft pick.
Dee Ford will likely be cut post June 1, so the 49ers will save $1.12 million in cash, and $225,000 in cap room, this due to someone making $895,000 replacing him on the top 51.
Guys like Alex Barret($825,000), Chris Slayton($705,000), & Kevin Atkins($705,000) will likely be practice squad candidates.
As for 6th-round pick Kalia Davis, he tore his ACL in October of 2021, so he’s expected to start the season on reserve/NFI, and I expect him to be the teams’ starting NT in 2023.
As always, thanks for reading, leave a comment, or follow me on Twitter @49erscap.
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