So, a big question going around is whether or not the 49ers can keep their core players together long term, those players include the following.
QB Brock Purdy, RB Christian McCaffrey, FB Kyle Juszczyk, WR Deebo Samuel, WR Brandon Aiyuk, TE George Kittle, LG Aaron Banks, LT Trent Williams, DE Nick Bosa, DT Arik Armstead, NT Javon Hargrave, WLB Dre Greenlaw, MLB Fred Warner, CB Charvarius Ward, & SS Talanoa Hufanga, that’s 15 players I identify as core players.
Now, in 2024 the 49ers are projected to be around $40 million over the cap, this is due to Banks, Hufanga, Elijah Mitchell, & Deommodore Lenoir seeing their base salaries escalate by over a combined $9.5 million, this is based on playing time, and what the salary cap is set at in 2024.
The 49ers created a ton of cap room for 2023, which isn’t, in my opinion, for a veteran big name, but for 2024, where they’ll carryover as much of the current $42.5 million into 2024, but the team would still be a bit over the cap most likely.
The 49ers can create a ton of cap room, as they can extend core players Arik Armstead, Dre Greenlaw, & Charvarius Ward, where they can save $27.668 million in cap room, while the 3 combine for a whopping $29,709,766 in dead money in 2025, and I believe they can get Armstead, Greenlaw, & Ward’s 2025 cap numbers somewhere in that range, if not lower, for 2025, when the team has a projected $45,541,344 in cap room, with just 28 players signed, and $26,221,344 with 51 players signed.
The team could probably also fit Aaron Banks, and Talanoa Hufanga extensions in to that $29.709 million, maybe a little more, which would give the team 33 players for 2025, and still have a good amount of cap room to use, with some of it going to Brandon Aiyuk extension next offseason.
So, yes the 49ers can afford to keep their core players long term, it’ll take some unique structuring of contracts, and smart salary cap maneuvering to make sure this happens.
So, unless a player gets hurt this year, & we trade for someone, this is all feasible, and doable with the way the 49ers salary cap is at.
Thank you for reading, and follow me on X/Twitter @49erscap.
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