With the NFL’s legal tampering period set to open this coming Monday, I think it’s time to post my mock offseason plan, which is what I would do, not necessarily what the 49ers will do.
Right now, the 49ers have 56 players signed for 2024, accounting for $291,691,903, with $9,145,613 in dead money, a total commitment of $300,837,516, now that’s with 56 players signed, when you count just the top 51 players, & dead money they account for $296,862,516, which puts the 49ers just $601,918 under their $297,464,434 adjusted cap, which includes a base $255.4 million salary cap, $36,395,265 in carryover, & $5,669,169 in adjustments.
Below are the 56 players signed, with their 2024 cap number.
- LT 71 Trent Williams(2026)- $31,568,542
- WR 19 Deebo Samuel(2025)- $28,633,765
- DT 91 Arik Armstead(2024)- $28,353,236
- MLB 54 Fred Warner(2026)- $24,469,000
- TE 85 George Kittle(2025)- $21,986,575
- CB 7 Charvarius Ward(2024)- $18,401,000
- NT 98 Javon Hargrave(2026)- $15,430,882
- DE 97 Nick Bosa(2028)- $14,671,000
- RB 23 Christian McCaffrey(2025)- $14,144,000
- WR 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2024)- $14,124,000
- WLB 57 Dre Greenlaw(2024)- $9,602,970
- FB 44 Kyle Juszczyk(2025)- $7,588,750
- SS 29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024)- $4,950,038
- C 64 Jake Brendel(2026)- $4,692,000
- LG 65 Aaron Banks(2024)- $3,741,110
- RT 68 Colton McKivitz(2024)- $3,641,000
- CB 2 Deommodore Lenoir(2024)- $3,187,217
- P 18 Mitch Wishnowsky(2026)- $2,825,000
- SS 30 George Odum(2024)- $1,625,000
- DE 95 Drake Jackson(2025)- $1,607,016
- CB 20 Ambry Thomas(2024)- $1,425,154
- WR 6 Danny Gray(2025)- $1,375,883
- LS 46 Taybor Pepper(2025)- $1,300,000
- FS 27 Ji’Ayir Brown(2026)- $1,226,319
- PK 4 Jake Moody(2026)- $1,205,473
- TE 81 Cameron Latu(2026)- $1,205,473
- RG 74 Spencer Burford(2025)- $1,153,014
- RT 76 Jaylon Moore(2024)- $1,135,759
- RB 25 Elijah Mitchell(2024)- $1,100,893
- CB 0 Samuel Womack III(2025)- $1,055,831
- WLB 59 Curtis Robinson(2024)- $1,055,000
- LG 63 Nick Zakelj(2025)- $1,032,590
- NT 93 Kalia Davis(2025)- $1,018,003
- QB 13 Brock Purdy(2025)- $1,004,253
- CB 28 Darrell Luter Jr.(2026)- $993,378
- RB 24 Jordan Mason(2024)- $988,334
- CB 38 Kemon Hall(2024)- $985,000
- SS 35 Erik Harris(2024)- $985,000
- DT 96 T.Y. McGill Jr.(2024)- $985,000
- DE 40 Austin Bryant(2024)- $985,000
- DE 51 Robert Beal Jr.(2026)- $976,245
- SLB 53 Dee Winters(2026)- $948,333
- TE 9 Brayden Willis(2026)- $934,975
- WR 10 Ronnie Bell(2026)- $934,446
- MLB 50 Jalen Graham(2026)- $934,446
- DE 67 Sam Okuayinonu(2024)- $915,000
- DE 58 Alex Barrett(2024)- $915,000
- DE — Earnest Brown IV(2024)- $915,000
- DT — Raymond Johnson III(2024)- $915,000
- LT 60 Sebastian Gutierrez(2024)- $915,000
- TE 88 Jake Tonges(2024)- $915,000
- DT 69 Spencer Waege(2024)- $795,000
- WR 86 Tay Martin(2024)- $795,000
- FS 41 Tayler Hawkins(2024)- $795,000
- C 61 Corey Luciano(2024)- $795,000
- LT — Isaac Alarcón(2024)- $795,000
First, let’s look at the 49ers free agents.
UFAs:
QB Sam Darnold
QB Brandon Allen
WR Chris Conley
WR/KR/PR Ray-Ray McCloud III
TE Ross Dwelley
TE Charlie Woerner
C/RG Jon Feliciano
LG Ben Bartch
RT Matt Pryor
DE Chase Young
DE Clelin Ferrell
DE Randy Gregory
DT Javon Kinlaw
DT Kevin Givens
DT Sebastian Joseph-Day
WLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
SLB Oren Burks
FS Tashaun Gipson Sr.
FS Logan Ryan
RFAs:
WR Jauan Jennings
First up on the free agent list is tendering Jauan Jennings at the 2nd–round RFA level, which is worth $4.89 million, and the reason for doing this is the fact the 49ers did this with Azeez Al-Shaair in 2022 when he was a RFA, or else they could have lost him for nothing, if the 49ers tender Jennings at the original round tender they’d only get a 7th-round pick, which virtually guarantees Jennings is back in 2024 if they tender him at the 2nd-round level.
By tendering Jennings at the 2nd-round level they would now be $3,373,082 over their adjusted cap, meaning they need to restructure a contract or 2, with the options below.
RB Christian McCaffrey – $8,472,000 (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)
Now, my philosophy is to only restructure contracts of players you intend on keeping long term, so I would restructure Deebo Samuel, as I don’t buy any of the rumors, or articles saying the 49ers will trade Deebo, which saves the team $15,877,600, putting the 49ers $12,504,518 under their adjusted cap to begin free agency.
Now this will add $3,969,400 to his 2025 cap number, plus increase his 2026 pending dead money to $19,582,200, but I fully expect the 49ers to extend Deebo before his deal would void after 2025.
Now, when it comes to the teams’ own free agents, I would re-sign quarterback Brandon Allen, & wide receiver Chris Conley to 1-year deals, worth $1,377,500 each, but they would only count $1,152,500 against the salary cap, due to both deals qualifying as veteran minimum salary benefit deals, which would put the 49ers $12,029,518 under their adjusted salary cap.
I would re-sign offensive lineman Jon Feliciano to a 3-year deal, worth $15 million, with a $6 million signing bonus, his 2024 base salary would be fully guaranteed, and his 2025 base salary would be guaranteed for injury and fully guaranteed on April 1, 2025, a total of $10.21 million guaranteed, $7.21 million being fully guaranteed.
2024: $3.65 million ($1.21 million base salary, $2 million prorared, $340,000 per game roster bonus, & $100,000 workout bonus)
2025: $5.44 million ($3 million base salary, $2 million prorared, $340,000 per game roster bonus, & $100,000 workout bonus)
2026: $5.91 million ($3.47 million base salary, $2 million prorared, $340,000 per game roster bonus, & $100,000 workout bonus)
Next I would re-sign wide receiver/return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud III to a 2-year deal, worth $3 million a year, with a $2 million signing bonus, and his 2024 base salary would be fully guaranteed, a total of $3.125 million in fully guaranteed money.
2024: $2.125 million ($1.125 million base salary, $1 million prorated)
2025: $3.875 million ($2.74 million base salary, $1 million prorated, & $135,000 per game roster bonus)
I would also re-sign defensive end Clelin Ferrell to a 1-year deal, worth $3 million, with a $1.095 million signing bonus, a $1.125 million fully guaranteed base salary, $680,000 per game roster bonus, and a $100,000 workout bonus.
These 3 re-signings would put the 49ers $5,999,518 under their adjusted salary cap, with 62 players signed.
I would also approach cornerback Charvarius Ward about a long term contract extension
I would sign Ward to a 4-year extension, worth $18 million a year, with a $11.435 million signing bonus, a $8.5 million option bonus due in 2025, his 2024 base salary fully guaranteed, his 2025 base salary fully guaranteed, his 2026 base salary fully guaranteed, & $16 million of his 2027 base salary guaranteed for injury, and fully on April 1, 2026, total of $42.23 million guaranteed, of which $26.23 million is fully guaranteed.
2024: $9.253 million ($1.125 million base salary, $7.188 million prorated, $340,000 per game roster bonus, $100,000 workout bonus, & $500,000 LTBE Incentives)
2025: $10.498 million ($1.17 million base salary, $8.888 million prorated, $340,000 per game roster bonus, & $100,000 workout bonus)
2026: $13.328 million ($4 million base salary, $8.888 million prorated, $340,000 per game roster bonus, & $100,000 workout bonus)
2027: $26.923 million ($20 million base salary, $6.483 million prorated, $340,000 per game roster bonus, & $100,000 workout bonus)
2028: $28.437 million ($24.01 million base salary, $3.987 million prorated, $340,000 per game roster bonus, & $100,000 workout bonus)
This would actually save the 49ers $9.148 million in 2024 cap room, and $1.8 million in 2025, as Ward’s deal voids after 2024, leaving a pending dead money hit of $12.298 million.
After extending Ward, the 49ers would have $15,147,518 in cap room to spend on outside free agents.
I would now sign Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter to a 4-year deal, worth $22 million a year, with a $25 million signing bonus, along with a $5 million option bonus due in 2025, he’d get his 2024 base salary fully guaranteed, his 2025 base salary guaranteed, and $10 million of his 2026 base salary would be fully guaranteed, while the remaining $10 million would guarantee on April 1, 2025, for a total of $52.465 million in guaranteed money, $42.465 million being fully guaranteed.
2024: $7.06 million ($1.21 million base salary, $5 million prorated, $750,000 per game roster bonus, & $100,000 workout bonus)
2025: $8.105 million ($1.255 million base salary, $6 million prorated, $750,000 per game roster bonus, & $100,000 workout bonus)
2026: $26.85 million ($20 million base salary, $6 million prorated, $750,000 per game roster bonus, & $100,000 workout bonus)
2027: $38.985 million ($32.135 million base salary, $6 million prorated, $750,000 per game roster bonus, & $100,000 workout bonus)
There would be void years in Hunter’s deal for cap reasons, leaving $7 million in pending dead money for 2028.
With this signing, the 49ers would have $9,002,518 in cap room.
Now comes Brandon Aiyuk, who I would give a 3-year extension, worth $25 million a year, with a $25 million signing bonus, a $10 million option bonus due in 2025, his 2024 base salary fully guaranteed, his 2024 base salary fully guaranteed, and his 2026 base salary having $5 million fully guaranteed, and the remainder, $20 million being guaranteed for injury, and fully guaranteed on April 1, 2025, his 2025 per game roster bonus, 2025 workout bonus, & 2026 workout bonus become fully guaranteed 3 days after Aiyuk signs his deal, and his 2026 per game roster bonus becoming fully guaranteed on April 1, 2026, for total of $64.195 million in guaranteed money, of which $42.295 million is fully guaranteed, there would be void years to help prorate his signing bonus, & option bonus, similar to Deebo Samuel’s deal.
2024: $6.125 million ($1.125 million base salary, & $5 million prorated)
2025: $9.12 million ($1.17 million base salary, $7 million prorated, $750,000 per game roster bonus, & $200,000 workout bonus)
2026: $32.95 million ($25 million base salary, $7 million prorated, $750,000 per game roster bonus, & $200,000 workout bonus)
2027: $17.805 million ($9.855 million base salary, $7 million prorated, $750,000 per game roster bonus, & $200,000 workout bonus)
With this deal, the 49ers would save $7.999 million in 2024 cap room, putting them $17,001,518 under their adjusted cap.
Finally I would extend defensive tackle Arik Armstead’s deal, it being a
3-year extension, worth $19 million a year, with a $16.2 million signing bonus, his 2024 base salary fully guaranteed, his 2025 base salary fully guaranteed, and his 2026 base salary guaranteed for injury, and fully guaranteed on April 1, 2026, total of $27.915 million guaranteed, $18.665 million being fully guaranteed.
2024- $15,393,236 ($1.21 million base salary, $13,553,824 prorated, $750,000 per game roster bonus, & $100,000 workout bonus)
2025- $12.396 million ($1.255 million base salary, $10.291 million prorated, $750,000 per game roster bonus, & $100,000 workout bonus)
2026- $18.891 million ($9.25 million base salary, $8.791 million prorated, $750,000 per game roster bonus, & $100,000 workout bonus)
2027- $27.535 million ($20.5 million base salary, $6.185 million prorated, $750,000 per game roster bonus, & $100,000 workout bonus)
This move would save the team $12.96 million in cap room for 2024, and $3.151 million in 2025 as Armstead is set to count $15.547 million against the cap as pending dead money.
This would give the team $29,961,518 in cap room for 2024, with the intention of rolling it over into 2025.
As for the teams’ 2025-2028 salary cap, they’d have the following in cap room.
2025: $20,706,391 with 33 players signed on a $280 million cap
2026: $24,192,918 with 20 players signed on a $305 million cap
2027: $152,985,895 with 5 players signed on a $330 million cap
2028: $256,294,895 with 2 players signed on a $355 million cap
As for after 2025, I’d expect the 49ers to extend Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey, with low cap numbers that could clear significant cap room, as these 3 are set to count $30,181,200 in dead money in 2026, if they restructure Samuel like I did.
So, the 49ers would be able to keep their core together, while building their depth up through the draft over the next 3-4 years.
The 49ers would have to make some tough choices in future years, when it comes to the likes of Dre Greenlaw, Deommodore Lenoir, Aaron Banks, Elijah Mitchell, Talanoa Hufanga, Jauan Jennings, and others, but with the salary cap going up so much each year the 49ers should be able to retain their top tier talents, while drafting replacements for players they simply can’t afford to pay long term.
As for the remainder of the offseason, I could see the 49ers bringing in a cornerback via free agency on a reasonable deal, but with almost $30 million, before paying their draft class, they could be looking at having some significant cap room in 2025, which will help in extending quarterback Brock Purdy, while as I said before, keeping Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey.
When it comes to the draft, I won’t go into details on who to target as I don’t follow college football, but there you have it my 2024 mock offseason plan, thanks for reading, and follow me on X/Twitter @49erscap.
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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