Taking another look at the 49ers expected salary cap room for 2021

So, with the news that strong safety Jaquiski Tartt was placed on active/PUP, with a chance he’ll begin the season on reserve/PUP, which means he’d miss at least the first 6 games, I think it’s a good time to take another look at the 49ers cap situation for this season.

Even though I have the 49ers at $11,936,489 under the cap, they’re actually over the cap if all players counted right now, by $20,163,151, meaning they likely won’t have a lot of money when the season begins.

First, I want to take a look at players, who I feel are locks to make the 2021 roster, along with injured players, with their cap number.

1. QB 10 Jimmy Garoppolo(2022)- $26,382,353
2. QB 5 Trey Lance(2024)- $6,200,956
3. RB 31 Raheem Mostert(2021)- $3,600,981
4. RB 28 Trey Sermon(2024)- $885,988
5. RB 49 Elijah Mitchell(2024)- $705,893
6. RB 30 Jeff Wilson Jr.(2021)- $2,050,000 (PUP)
7. FB 44 Kyle Juszyzck(2025)- $2,251,471
8. WR 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2023)- $2,848,034
9. WR 19 Deebo Samuel(2022)- $2,099,279
10. WR 14 Jalen Hurd(2022)- $1,167,186
11. WR 81 Trent Sherfield(2021)- $920,000
12. TE 85 George Kittle(2025)- $5,447,059
13. TE 82 Ross Dwelley(2021)- $1,488,235
14. TE 83 MyCole Pruitt(2021)- $987,500
15. TE 89 Charlie Woerner(2023)- $825,258
16. C 50 Alex Mack(2023)- $2,979,412
17. C 60 Daniel Brunskill(2021)- $850,000
18. LG 75 Laken Tomlinson(2021)- $6,561,647
19. LG 68 Colton McKivitz(2023)- $862,445
20. RG 65 Aaron Banks(2024)- $1,286,110
21. LT 71 Trent Williams(2026)- $8,187,647
22. LT 76 Jaylon Moore(2024)- $740,759
23. RT 69 Mike McGlinchey(2022)- $6,006,052
24. RT 67 Justin Skule(2022)- $894,887 (IR)
25. DE 91 Arik Armstead(2024)- $12,455,882
26. DE 97 Nick Bosa(2022)- $9,255,509
27. DE 55 Dee Ford(2022)- $8,909,997
28. DE 56 Samson Ebukam(2022)- $3,720,588
29. DE 98 Arden Key(2021)- $1,245,000
30. DT 99 Javon Kinlaw(2023)- $3,520,159
31. DT 90 Kevin Givens(2021)- $850,000
32. DT 96 Maurice Hurst Jr.(2021)- $1,045,000
33. NT 93 D.J. Jones(2021)- $3,455,882
34. NT 92 Zach Kerr(2021)- $966,912
35. WLB 57 Dre Greenlaw(2022)- $930,429
36. MLB 54 Fred Warner(2026)- $3,636,547
37. SLB 51 Azeez Al-Shaair(2021)- $855,000
38. SLB 36 Marcell Harris(2021)- $1,244,118
39. CB 2 Jason Verrett(2021)- $5,264,706
40. CB 4 Emmanuel Moseley(2021)- $2,652,000
41. CB 24 K’Waun Williams(2021)- $1,127,500
42. CB 20 Ambry Thomas(2024)- $870,154
43. CB 38 Deommodore Lenoir(2024)- $731,217
44. FS 1 Jimmie Ward(2022)- $10,911,765
45. FS 33 Tarvarius Moore(2021)- $1,116,093 (PUP)
46. SS 26 Jaquiski Tartt(2021)- $987,500 (PUP)
47. SS 29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024)- $720,038
48. PK 9 Robbie Gould(2022)- $2,609,313
49. P 6 Mitch Wishnowsky(2022)- $1,041,018
50. LS 46 Taybor Pepper(2022)- $960,000

That’s a total of 50 players, who will count $167,341,478 against the cap, plus the team will have, at least, $14,130,528 in dead money, which is a combined $181,472,006, while the 49ers adjusted salary cap for 2021 is $196,146,022, leaving the team with $14,674,016 in cap room.

Now, that $14,674,016 number isn’t the actual number, as I have 50 players listed, but 4 of them will start the season on either IR or PUP, so that means there are 46 locks, leaving 7 open roster spots, not to mention the teams practice squad, which will likely be $3.168 million, leaving them with $11,506,016 in cap room.

When we look at the players who are locks in my eyes, it leaves open roster spots for a 3rd QB, 4th RB, 5th & 6th WR, 5th LB, 2nd FS, & 2nd SS, of course the team could decide to go with just 3 backs, and a 9th OL, but for now, I’ll keep these positions as the remaining spots, and camp battles.

At quarterback, the competition for the 3rd spot is between Nate Sudfeld, & Josh Rosen, who both make $850,000 if they make the roster, except that if Sudfeld is cut, he’ll leave behind $252,000 in dead money, which, if Sudfeld is signed the practice squad, the 49ers would get that back in 2022.

So, if the 49ers keep Sudfeld on the 53-man roster, & Rosen on the practice squad, those 2 would count $1.102 million, while if they keep Rosen on the 53-man roster, & Sudfeld on the practice squad, they would count $1.354 million, due to Sudfeld’s dead money.

Now, the potential 4th running back spot really comes down to just 2 players that are on the roster, Wayne Gallman II, & JaMycal Hasty, with Gallman counting $850,000, & Hasty $780,000.

This is obviously easy to calculate, the 49ers would either have $850,000 counting, or just $780,000, which is only a $70,000 savings if Hasty were to make it.

At wide receiver, the competition is between a few different players, Mohamed Sanu Sr., Travis Benjamin, Richie James Jr., & Jauan Jennings, while Sanu would count $915,000, Benjamin $1.075 million, James $939,143, and Jennings $660,000.

The 49ers would have dead money if either Sanu($25,000), or James($19,143) were to be cut, while none if Benjamin or Jennings are cut.

From reports, it seems that Sanu has the upper hand on that 3rd WR/Slot WR spot, but anything can happen, while Benjamin, if he were to make it, would likely be the teams punt returners and/or kick returner.

But the question is, if both Sanu & Benjamin make it, which of the 6 WRs is inactive?

No way will Aiyuk or Samuel be inactive, Sherfield is likely going to be one of the teams 2 gunners on special teams, which leaves either Hurd, Sanu or Benjamin, unless Kyle Shanahan finally uses more than 3 wideouts, and just has all 6 active.

Next is the 5th linebacker spot, with James Burgess Jr., Justin Hilliard, Elijah Sullivan, Jonas Griffith, & Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles all vying for that spot.

Burgess would count $850,000, Hilliard & Sullivan $670,000, Griffith $660,000, & Flannigan-Fowles $780,000.

Now those aren’t big numbers at all, now the 49ers will have at least 1 dead money hit of $105,000 from one of the 2 UDFAs(Hilliard & Sullivan) or 2 dead money charges of $105,000.

The 2nd free safety spot is likely down to Tony Jefferson II, & Jared Mayden, due to Tavon Wilson working at strong safety in Tartt’s absence.

Jefferson would count $850,000, while Mayden just $660,000, which would be a $190,000 savings if Mayden made it over Jefferson, who didn’t play in 2020.

Both offer their own different versatility, as Jefferson can play both safety spots, while Mayden can as well play both spots, plus cornerback, and can contribute on special teams.

Finally, the 2nd strong safety spot, which honestly, is just Tavon Wilson, since Hufanga is already locked in, & Marcell Harris was moved to linebacker, leaving, really no one, that’s unless Tartt is able to play week 1.

Wilson would count $900,000 for 2021.

Based on these camp battles, the way I see it/have it, is the spots will go to Sudfeld, Gallman, Sanu, Benjamin, Flannigan-Fowles, Jefferson, & Wilson, which would be a total of $6.22 million in cap charges.

Now, some players who will likely leave dead money hits behind are listed below.

WR Austin Watkins Jr.- $88,333
LT Shon Coleman- $137,500
DT Kentavius Street- $152,550

While they’ll have dead money hits from Hilliard and/or Sullivan, both $105,000 each.

If Richie James Jr. doesn’t make the roster, he’ll leave behind $19,143 in dead money.

So, barring any surprise cuts, these will likely be the only dead money added to the $14,130,528.

Watkins, Coleman, & Street would count $378,333, while Hilliard & Sullivan would count $210,000, along with James’ $19,143, that’s a total of $607,526.

So, the 49ers $11,506,016 in cap room would go down to $4,678,490.

Now, the 49ers have 2 other players that I didn’t factor in, Jordan Willis, who is suspended the first 6 games, & Tim Harris Jr., who is on injured reserve.

Willis would count $566,664, while Harris would be either $660,000 or if he has a split salary, just $440,000.

So, that would put the 49ers down to either $3,451,826 if Harris counts $660,000, or $3,671,826 if Harris’ salary is the split of $440,000.

Also, as I’ve gone over, the 49ers have 15 players that have per game roster bonuses in their contracts, in which they’d need to pay the players back, due to a certain amount of games counting against the cap, a total of $1,432,352, while the list is below.

QB Jimmy Garoppolo – $517,647
RB Raheem Mostert – $132,353
FB Kyle Juszyzck – $23,529
TE George Kittle – $52,941
TE Ross Dwelley – $11,765
C Alex Mack – $70,588
LG Laken Tomlinson – $23,529
LT Trent Williams – $132,353
DE Arik Armstead – $44,118
DE Samson Ebukam – $29,412
NT D.J. Jones – $44,118
NT Zach Kerr – $20,588
SLB Marcell Harris – $5,882
CB Jason Verrett – $235,294
FS Jimmie Ward – $88,235

So, the 49ers will likely have to create some cap room, with Arik Armstead being the most logical choice, as he already has enough years to prorate a new bonus, plus it wouldn’t be bad on the future cap.

So, by redoing Armstead, the team would save $4.528 million, with $1.132 million being added to his 2022-2024 cap numbers.

Now, of course, the roster isn’t guaranteed to go this way, as injuries happen, as we’ve yet to see the 49ers play a preseason game, with their opener being this Saturday, the 14th vs. the Chiefs, so either we could see some of the guys I listed either as locks or making the last 7 spots could do good or bad.

The differences would likely be minimal, but, it would be some cap room for in season roster moves, like if the team keeps Jennings or James over Benjamin, then they would save either $415,000 if Jennings made it, or $135,857 if James made the team.

Also, let’s say, that someone like Arden Key or Maurice Hurst Jr. don’t play well, they would only leave dead money charges of $225,000 each, as both got $100,000 of their base salary guaranteed, a $25,000 signing bonus, and both earned a $100,000 workout bonus, which would be a savings of $1.02 million for Key, & $820,000 for Hurst, which as I said, is very minimal, and with the team needing all the EDGE rushers they can get, and well, pass rushers, I think it’s safe to say, as of now, both Key & Hurst are locks.

But let’s say the team does decide to not keep Key and/or Hurst, the savings would really be offset by what the player taking their roster spot will make, so say for example, Kentavius Street, who would count $1,002,550, makes the roster, then the difference in their cap numbers, are $42,550, with as I said, Hurst leaving $225,000 in dead money, while Street would leave $152,550 in dead money, so it’s very minimal.

Also, if we take a look at some of the 49ers injuries, they really lost some cap room, take for example Jeff Wilson Jr., who tore his meniscus, and isn’t expected back until November most likely, well that $2.05 million that they gave him, fully guaranteed, when offset by, say Wayne Gallman II or Elijah Mitchell, is a loss of either $1.2 million for Gallman, or $1,344,107 for Mitchell, since one of these 2 players will take his spot on the roster.

So with all of this said, I thank everyone for reading article, as always you can follow me on Twitter @49erscap, or leave a comment below, and I’ll get back to you.

About Author

Jason Hurley

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, and you can find me on X/Twitter @49erscap, & on Blue Sky App @49erscap.bsky.social.

See author's posts