With the latest developments with Sam Darnold being named QB2, and the 49ers will explore trade options for Trey Lance, it’s time for my latest 53-man roster projection, with practice squad, injured lists, and 2023 & 2024 salary cap implications.
The team has the following 93 players signed, with their cap numbers listed.
- QB 13 Brock Purdy(2025)- $889,253
- QB 5 Trey Lance(2024)- $9,301,434
- QB 14 Sam Darnold(2023)- $5,711,765
- QB 4 Brandon Allen(2023)- $1,092,500
- RB 23 Christian McCaffrey(2025)- $3,424,000
- RB 25 Elijah Mitchell(2024)- $985,893
- RB 32 Tyrion Davis-Price(2025)- $1,161,033
- RB 24 Jordan Mason(2024)- $873,333
- RB 22 Jeremy McNichols(2023)- $940,000
- RB 36 Brian Hill(2023)- $940,000
- FB 44 Kyle Juszczyk(2025)- $6,565,221
- FB 33 Jack Colletto(2025)- $753,333
- WR 19 Deebo Samuel(2025)- $8,653,529
- WR 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2023)- $3,987,248
- WR 15 Jauan Jennings(2023)- $940,000
- WR/KR/PR 3 Ray-Ray McCloud III(2023)- $2,090,000
- WR 6 Danny Gray(2025)- $1,146,569
- WR 86 Tay Martin(2023)- $750,000
- WR 17 Chris Conley(2023)- $1,092,500
- WR 83 Willie Snead IV(2023)- $965,000
- WR/KR/PR 10 Ronnie Bell(2026)- $770,482
- WR 2 Isaiah Winstead(2025)- $750,333
- WR 84 Anthony Miller(2023)- $940,000
- TE 85 George Kittle(2025)- $18,033,751
- TE 89 Charlie Woerner(2023)- $1,055,258
- TE 82 Ross Dwelley(2023)- $1,080,000
- TE 81 Cameron Latu(2026)- $975,805
- TE 9 Brayden Willis(2026)- $771,039
- TE 88 Troy Fumagalli(2023)- $940,000
- C 64 Jake Brendel(2026)- $2,272,000
- C 55 Jon Feliciano(2023)- $3,250,000
- C 67 Keith Ismael(2023)- $940,000
- C 61 Corey Luciano(2025)- $751,666
- LG 65 Aaron Banks(2024)- $1,929,166
- LG 63 Nick Zakelj(2025)- $917,590
- RG 74 Spencer Burford(2025)- $1,038,014
- RG 51 Jason Poe(2023)- $750,000
- RG 66 Joey Fisher(2025)- $755,000
- LT 71 Trent Williams(2026)- $27,227,424
- LT 75 Matt Pryor(2023)- $990,000
- LT 78 Leroy Watson IV(2023)- $750,000
- LT 60 Ilm Manning(2025)- $755,000
- RT 68 Colton McKivitz(2024)- $1,515,412
- RT 76 Jaylon Moore(2024)- $1,020,759
- RT 77 Alfredo Gutierrez(2023)- $750,000
- DE 97 Nick Bosa(2023)- $17,859,000
- DE/DT 92 Kerry Hyder Jr.(2023)- $940,000
- DE 95 Drake Jackson(2025)- $1,339,180
- DE 94 Clelin Ferrell(2023)- $2,460,000
- DE 58 Alex Barrett(2023)- $870,000
- DE 56 Austin Bryant(2023)- $965,000
- DE 55 Robert Beal Jr.(2026)- $814,510
- DE 69 Spencer Wage(2025)- $753,333
- DE 77 Taco Charlton(2023)- $940,000
- DE 66 Breeland Speaks(2023)- $870,000
- DE 60 La’Darius Hamilton(2023)- $750,000
- DT 91 Arik Armstead(2024)- $23,755,883
- DT 90 Kevin Givens(2023)- $2,000,000
- DT/NT 99 Javon Kinlaw(2023)- $4,928,223
- DT/NT 96 T.Y. McGill Jr.(2023)- $940,000
- DT 62 Marlon Davidson(2023)- $940,000
- NT/DT 98 Javon Hargrave(2026)- $6,595,000
- NT 93 Kalia Davis(2025)- $783,003
- SLB 45 Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles(2023)- $1,825,000
- SLB 40 Marcelino McCrary-Ball(2023)- $750,000
- SLB 53 Dee Winters(2026)- $785,110
- SLB 50 Jalen Graham(2026)- $770,482
- WLB 57 Dre Greenlaw(2024)- $5,648,558
- WLB 59 Curtis Robinson(2023)- $940,000
- MLB 54 Fred Warner(2026)- $9,049,000
- MLB 48 Oren Burks(2023)- $2,773,000
- MLB 51 Kyahva Tezino(2023)- $750,000
- CB 7 Charvarius Ward(2024)- $6,421,000
- CB 20 Ambry Thomas(2024)- $1,305,232
- CB 2 Deommodore Lenoir(2024)- $1,011,217
- CB 26 Isaiah Oliver(2024)- $1,686,000
- CB 0 Samuel Womack III(2025)- $940,831
- CB 43 Qwuantrezz Knight(2023)- $750,000
- CB 47 A.J. Parker(2023)- $940,000
- CB 35 Tre Swilling(2023)- $750,000
- CB 28 Darrell Luter Jr.(2026)- $832,555 [PUP]
- CB/KR/PR 22 D’Shawn Jamison(2025)- $756,666
- CB 36 Nate Brooks(2023)- $750,000
- FS 31 Tashaun Gipson Sr.(2023)- $2,100,000
- FS 41 Tayler Hawkins(2023)- $750,000
- FS 38 Myles Hartsfield(2023)- $1,010,000
- FS 27 Ji’Ayir Brown(2026)- $993,368
- SS 29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024)- $1,000,038
- SS 30 George Odum(2024)- $2,340,000
- PK 10 Zane Gonzalez(2023)- $1,465,000
- PK 4 Jake Moody(2026)- $975,805
- P 18 Mitch Wishnowsky(2026)- $1,700,000
- LS 46 Taybor Pepper(2025)- $1,225,000
Now, my updated roster projection.
OFFENSE:
QB(3): 13 Brock Purdy(2025), 14 Sam Darnold(2023), & 4 Brandon Allen(2023)
RB(4): 23 Christian McCaffrey(2025), 25 Elijah Mitchell(2024), 32 Tyrion Davis-Price(2025), & 24 Jordan Mason(2024)
FB(1): 44 Kyle Juszcyzk(2025)
WR(5): 19 Deebo Samuel(2025), 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2024), 15 Jauan Jennings(2023), 3 Ray-Ray McCloud III(2023) & 10 Ronnie Bell(2026)
TE(4): 85 George Kittle(2025), 82 Ross Dwelley(2023), 81 Cameron Latu(2026), & 9 Brayden Willis(2026)
C(2): 64 Jake Brendel(2026), & 55 Jon Feliciano(2023)
LG(2): 65 Aaron Banks(2024), & 60 Ilm Manning(2025)
RG(1): 74 Spencer Burford(2025)
LT(2): 71 Trent Williams(2026), & 76 Jaylon Moore(2024)
RT(1): 68 Colton McKivitz(2024)
DEFENSE:
DE54): 97 Nick Bosa(2023), 95 Drake Jackson(2025), 94 Clelin Ferrell(2023), 92 Kerry Hyder Jr.(2023), & 56 Austin Bryant(2023)
DT(3): 91 Arik Armstead(2024), 99 Javon Kinlaw(2023), & 90 Kevin Givens(2023)
NT(2): 98 Javon Hargrave(2026), & 96 T.Y. McGill Jr.(2023)
WLB(1): 57 Dre Greenlaw(2024)
MLB(2): 54 Fred Warner(2026), & 50 Jalen Graham(2026)
SLB(2): 48 Oren Burks(2023), & 53 Dee Winters(2026)
CB(6): 7 Charvarius Ward(2024), 2 Deommodore Lenoir(2024), 26 Isaiah Oliver(2024), 0 Samuel Womack III(2025), 20 Ambry Thomas(2024), & 22 D’Shawn Jamison(2025)
FS(2): 31 Tashaun Gipson Sr.(2023), & 27 Ji’Ayir Brown(2026)
SS(2): 29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024), & 30 George Odum(2024)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
PK(1): 4 Jake Moody(2026)
P(1): 18 Mitch Wishnowsky(2026)
LS(1): 46 Taybor Pepper(2025)
PUP:
CB 28 Darrell Luter Jr.(2026)- Bone Bruise
IR:
WR 6 Danny Gray(2025)- AC Joint Sprain (Short Term IR)
DE 55 Robert Beal Jr.(2026)- Unknown Minor Injury (Short Term IR)
NT 93 Kalia Davis(2025)- Unknown Minor Injury (Short Term IR)
PRACTICE SQUAD:
- RB 22 Jeremy McNichols*
- FB 33 Jack Colletto
- WR 83 Willie Snead IV*
- WR 17 Chris Conley*
- TE 89 Charlie Woerner*
- LG 63 Nick Zakelj
- RG 51 Jason Poe
- RG 66 Joey Fisher
- LT 75 Matt Pryor*
- LT 78 Leroy Watson IV
- RT 77 Alfredo Gutierrez**
- DE 69 Spencer Waege
- DE 58 Alex Barrett
- CB 47 A.J. Parker
- CB 43 Qwuantrezz Knight
- FS 41 Tayler Hawkins
- SS 38 Myles Hartsfield*
For the 49ers 2023 salary cap, they would have $207,.986,802 in committed salaries for 74 players, with another $27,960,599 in dead money, a total cap commitment of $235,947,401 putting them $1,572,867 under their $237,520,268 adjusted salary cap for 2022, but this is before Nick Bosa’s pending extension, which I expect the team to use a $35 million signing bonus, which would lower Bosa’s cap hit by $9.779 million, putting the team $11,351,867 under, but this does include split salaries for Luter, Beal, & Davis, so they should get less for the weeks they’re out.
Next up is 2024, and with the Nick Bosa extension pending, I still believe the cap number for 2024 will come in around $12 million, which would give them 43 players signed, with a commitment of $262,681,391, plus $7,305,807 in dead money, for a total commitment of $269,987,198, putting them $13,987,198 over the projected 2024 salary cap of $256 million, with 43 players signed, and with 51 signed, they’d be $20,347,198 over that $256 million number.
I also need to mention that the 49ers have 4 players that could/will see base salary increases, Elijah Mitchell, Aaron Banks, Deommodore Lenoir, and Talanoa Hufanga, with Hufanga already guaranteed to see his base salary escalate to the 2nd-round RFA tender level, which would be $4.901 million.
Now, for Mitchell, Banks, & Lenoir, they would likely see their base salaries escalate to the original round tender level, which is projected to be $3.124 million, so all in all, that’s an extra $9,533,416 added to team commitments, putting them $23,520,614 over with 43 players signed, and $29,880,614 over with 51 players signed.
Now, the team will have to rework contracts to get under the 2024 salary cap, especially if they want to keep their core together, and below are their options.
RB Christian McCaffrey – $8,472,000 (Restructure)
FB Kyle Juszcyzk – $3,632,000 (Restructure)
WR Deebo Samuel – $15,877,600 (Restructure)
TE George Kittle – $9,752,000 (Restructure)
LT Trent Williams – $15,072,000 (Restructure)
DT Arik Armstead – $12,960,000 (Extension or Restructure)
NT Javon Hargrave – $6,140,000 (Restructure)
MLB Fred Warner – $11,340,000 (Restructure)
WLB Dre Greenlaw – $5,580,000 (Extension or Restructure)
CB Charvarius Ward – $9,148,000 (Extension or Restructure)
My ideal way of making cap room is to extend Arik Armstead, Dre Greenlaw, & Charvarius Ward, saving the team $27.688 million, while also redoing Deebo Samuel’s deal, saving the team $15,877,600, for a total of $43,565,600, putting the 49ers $20,044,986 under with 43 players signed, or $13,684,986 under with 51 players signed.
Of course, this doesn’t include any projected carryover, which would be in the $5 million range with my roster projection, or any adjustments/credits, from players given guarantees in their base salaries, which should look something like this.
Veterans on the practice squad.
WR Willie Snead IV – $250,000
WR Chris Conley – $370,800 of $400,000
That’s a total of $620,800.
As for UDFAs on the practice squad.
FB Jack Colletto – $100,000
G Joey Fisher – $115,000
DE Spencer Waege – $40,000
That’s $255,000, added to the $620,800, for a total of $875,800.
So, if we add the $875,800 adjustments to the $4 million projected carryover, that’s an additional $5,875,800 in cap room, putting the team $25,920,786 under with 43 players signed, and $19,560,786 with 51 players signed.
Now, the team will most definitely tender wide receiver Jauan Jennings at the 2nd-round RFA level, which would be $4.901 million, putting the team $21,814,786 with 44 players signed, or $14,659,786 with 51 players signed.
I also didn’t mention any incentives that currently count against the 2023 salary cap, or incentives that don’t count, so they may be able to recoup some of the $3.3 million in LTBE incentives, especially the $1.8 million from Sam Darnold, or the $1 million from Jon Feliciano, but I’d rather not try to guesstimate what the numbers could be, or what the 49ers could lose if certain players hit their incentives, which I did an article on, and can be found here.
With that said, I think I’ll stop right there, as the team will have enough cap room next year, even if they have to restructure guys like George Kittle, & Trent Williams, if they can’t get Armstead, Greenlaw, & Ward extended before next March, plus the team will be looking to extend the likes of Aaron Banks, Deommodore Lenoir, & Talanoa Hufanga, all who will be on expiring deals, and of course Brandon Aiyuk, who has a $14.124 million cap hit for 2024, which should be lowered with an extension sometime in the Summer of 2024.
Now, this is where I remind people to not worry about 2024, and just enjoy the 2023 season, as we’re just a few weeks away from the 49ers opening the 2023 season at Pittsburgh.
I thank you for reading, and follow me on Twitter @49erscap for more salary cap information & tidbits.
About Author
Die Hard 49ers fan from New York, been covering the 49ers salary cap since 2005, with several different websites, including NinersNation.com, & the now defunct NinerCapHell, I have a track record of being as accurate as possible, & I try to be as thorough as possible.
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