With the season only 2 weeks in, and the 49ers already extending Dre Greenlaw, & Mitch Wishnowsky, I thought I’d look at the current free agents to be, and which are players I think the 49ers should consider keeping.
First off, let’s look at the teams’ pending free agents.
UFA:
RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
RB Marlon Mack
TE Ross Dwelley
TE Tyler Kroft
TE Jordan Matthews
C Jake Brendel
C Daniel Brunskill
RT Mike McGlinchey
DE Jordan Willis
DE Samson Ebukam
DE Kerry Hyder Jr.
DE Charles Omenihu
DE Kemoko Turay
DT Maurice Hurst Jr.
NT Hassan Ridgeway
SLB Azeez Al-Shaair
CB Emmanuel Moseley
CB Jason Verrett
FS Jimmie Ward
FS Tashaun Gipson Sr.
FS Tarvarius Moore
PK Robbie Gould
LS Taybor Pepper
RFA:
LT Colton McKivitz
DT Kevin Givens
SLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
ERFA:
WR Jauan Jennings
RG Blake Hance
WLB Curtis Robinson
Now, let’s look at the players I’d consider keeping for 2023.
RB Jeff Wilson Jr. – So far, he’s shown he has a nice burst, and attacks the holes, he gets extra yards, he’s a keeper to me.
WR Jauan Jennings – This is a no brainer, Jauan is a pure dog, and he’ll only cost $940,000 in 2023.
C Jake Brendel – While Brendel may not be the future for the 49ers, I’d keep him around, as he’s done a good job through the first 2 weeks of the season.
DE Samson Ebukam – Ebukam is a player I’d strongly consider keeping, as he’s all over the field, getting sacks, and just making plays, especially in the backfield.
DE Charles Omenihu – Omenihu has really been a good player for the 49ers since they acquired him from the Texans, he does a good job in 1 on 1 situations, he’s just an overall good player, someone the 49ers should consider keeping long term, he likely wouldn’t cost that much.
DT Kevin Givens – Givens has done a great job of getting pressure, getting a good push through the offensive line, and just being a great rotational player.
SLB Azeez Al-Shaair – With the 49ers extending Dre Greenlaw to a 2-year deal, it looks unlikely that they’ll keep Al-Shaair, but he’s still a player I’d love to see them try & keep around, especially since Greenlaw’s deal is short term, and Azeez is a very good player, a hard hitter, just has a nose for the ball.
CB Emmanuel Moseley – This is another no brainer, Moseley, along with offseason acquisition Charvarius Ward, have been so good, locking down opposing receivers, so I really hope the 49ers extend Moseley ASAP, cause having 2 good corners long term would be ideal.
FS Tashaun Gipson Sr. – Gipson has played very well, he seems to be back to his old Pro Bowl ways, he’s really made it so the 49ers haven’t missed a beat at free safety, he’s a guy I’d keep in 2023.
PK Robbie Gould – If anyone can continue to play at a high level into his 40s, it’s Robbie Gould, he’s still money, yet to miss a kick, he’s really a great kicker, & someone I’d try to extend.
LS Taybor Pepper – I like Pepper a lot, he’s a very good long snapper, I’m not saying to extend him now, but he’s someone I think the 49ers should keep moving forward, past 2022.
And that’s really it, for now, I didn’t list the likes of Jason Verrett or Jimmie Ward mainly due to them having not played yet this season, but if/when they come back, & they do play well, then those will be 2 guys I’d love to see back in 2023.
I also didn’t list Mike McGlinchey, despite the fact that he’s played well, I just think he’s going to play his way out of the 49ers price range, meaning the team will need to look for a RT in 2023, as I think McGlinchey can get as much as $15 million or more a year.
As always, thank you for reading, you can follow me on twitter @49erscap for more salary cap information & tidbits.
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