With the 49ers officially signing star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk to a 4-year, $120 million extension, and his terms known, it’s time to take a look at the 49ers 2025 salary cap, and even beyond 2025.
The 49ers in 2025, have 37 players signed, accounting for $264,469,046, with $34,931,910 in dead money, a total of $299,400,956, putting them $19,400,956 over a projected $280 million 2025 salary cap, with 37 players, signed, and $31,160,956 over, with 51 players signed, with those 14 remaining players making the league minimum of $840,000 each.
The 49ers currently have $24,399,313 in salary cap room for 2024 after the Brandon Aiyuk extension, and they can save up to $15.072 million by renegotiating or extending Trent Williams’ deal, but it’s more likely that they’d save in the $10 million range for both 2024 & 2025, & if they do extend him by 2-years, they could get his 2026 cap number down a bit.
Below are the 49ers 37 players signed, with their cap numbers.
QB Brock Purdy(2025)- $1,119,253
RB Christian McCaffrey(2027)- $9,806,000
RB Isaac Guerendo(2027)- $1,136,132
FB Kyle Juszcyzk(2025)- $6,496,750
WR Brandon Aiyuk(2028)- $11,191,000
WR Deebo Samuel Sr.(2025)- $24,200,529
WR Jauan Jennings(2025)- $4,258,000
WR Ricky Pearsall(2027)- $2,849,636
WR Jacob Cowing(2027)- $1,092,177
WR Ronnie Bell(2026)- $1,049,446
TE George Kittle(2025)- $22,085,000
C Jake Brendel(2026)- $4,447,000
C Nick Zakelj(2025)- $1,147,590
LG Spencer Burford(2025)- $1,268,014
RG Dominick Puni(2027)- $1,295,579
LT Trent Williams(2026)- $34,106,777
RT Colton McKivitz(2025)- $4,678,000
DE Nick Bosa(2028)- $20,519,105
DE Leonard Floyd(2025)- $10,108,000
DE Yeturm Gross-Matos(2025)- $9,653,000
DE Robert Beal Jr.(2026)- $1,081,245
DE Drake Jackson(2025)- $1,874,852
DT Maliek Collins(2025)- $10,000,000
DT Jordan Elliott(2025)- $3,465,000
NT Javon Hargrave(2026)- $28,105,000
NT Kalia Davis(2025)- $1,133,003
WLB Dee Winters(2026)- $1,063,333
MLB Fred Warner(2026)- $29,174,000
SLB Tatum Bethune(2027)- $980,452
CB Renardo Green(2027)- $1,452,244
CB Darrell Luter Jr.(2026)- $1,108,378
FS Ji’Ayir Brown(2026)- $1,471,583
SS Malik Mustapha(2027)- $1,144,734
SS George Odum(2026)- $3,971,666
PK Jake Moody(2026)- $1,446,568
P Mitch Wishnowsky(2026)- $3,050,000
LS Taybor Pepper(2025)- $1,430,000
Now, if the 49ers do indeed extend Trent Williams’ deal, & save $10 million in both 2024 & 2025, their cap room for 2024 goes up to $34,399,313, while setting aside $5 million for emergency roster moves in-season, which would give them, potentially, $29,399,313 to carryover into 2025, while the 49ers 2025 salary cap would go from being $19,400,956 over a $280 million cap, with 37 players, to being $19,998,357 under a projected adjusted salary cap of $309,399,313, and they’d go from being $31,160,956 over with 51 players signed, to being $8,238,357 under that $309,399,313 projected adjusted cap, with 51 players signed.
The 49ers would have the following pending free agents after 2024.
UFA:
QB Joshua Dobbs
QB Brandon Allen
RB Elijah Mitchell
RB Patrick Taylor Jr.
WR Chris Conley
TE Eric Saubert
C Jon Feliciano
C Ben Bartch
LG Aaron Banks
LT Jaylon Moore
DT Kevin Givens
WLB Dre Greenlaw
WLB De’Vondre Campbell Sr.
MLB Curtis Robinson
SLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
CB Charvarius Ward
CB Deommodore Lenoir
CB Isaac Yiadom
CB Rock Ya-Sin
SS Talanoa Hufanga
RFA:
RB Jordan Mason
ERFA:
TE Jake Tonges
FS Tayler Hawkins
Also, the 49ers would have $34,931,910 in pending dead money, with the following players having dead money due to having void years in their deals.
C Jon Feliciano – $470,000
DT Arik Armstead – $15,547,000
WLB Dre Greenlaw – $1,864,766
WLB De’Vondre Campbell Sr. – $2,680,000
CB Charvarius Ward – $12,298,000
CB Isaac Yiadom – $1,100,000
If the 49ers were smart, they’d approach Charvarius Ward about an extension, which could save as much as $9.148 million this year, while being able to get his 2025 cap hit at, or even below that $12.298 million number, if not, the 49ers need to get a deal done with Ward before his deal voids, which should be 5 days after the 2025 Super Bowl.
When it comes to their free agents, the biggest names appear to be, left guard Aaron Banks, weakside linebacker Dre Greenlaw, cornerbacks Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, & Isaac Yiadom, & strong safety Talanoa Hufanga, with the likelihood that Banks, & Hufanga are definitely gone in 2025, as the 49ers don’t spend big money on interior offensive lineman, and I can’t see the 49ers giving Hufanga top tier safety money.
As for Greenlaw, Ward, Lenoir, & Yiadom, I believe the 49ers can bring back the first 3, even if the 49ers end up not striking a deal with Ward before his contract voids, but the 49ers will have to make Ward among the top 5 highest paid cornerbacks, which would have to come in somewhere around $20 million a year to $21 million a year, as the top 5 highest paid cornerbacks right now are, Green Bay Packers’ Jaire Alexander at $21 million a year, Atlanta Falcons’ A.J. Terrell at $20.25 million a year, Cleveland Browns’ Denzel Ward at $20.1 million a year, Miami Dolphins’ Jalen Ramsey at $20 million a year, & Baltimore Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey at $19.5 million a year.
When it comes to guaranteed money, Cleveland Browns’ Denzel Ward leads the way at $71.25 million, next up are Miami Dolphins’ Jalen Ramsey at $71.203 million, New Orleans Saints’ Marshon Lattimore at $68,346,588, then Baltimore Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey at $66,957,407, and finally Atlanta Falcons’ A.J. Terrell at $65.844 million, while the cornerbacks with the most fully guaranteed money are, Cleveland Browns’ Denzel Ward at $44.5 million, New Orleans Saints’ Marshon Lattimore at $44,346,588, Tennesee Titans’ L’Jarius Sneed at $44 million, Chicago Bears’ Jaylon Johnson at $43.8 million, and lastly Miami Dolphins’ Jalen Ramsey at $43.703 million.
As for Greenlaw, & Lenoir, if Greenlaw comes back healthy, I’d expect the 49ers to try to re-sign him a multi-year deal, worth in the $10 million to $12 million a year range, as for Lenoir, a deal in the $10 million to $12 million a year range seems fair.
When it comes to the remaining free agents, the likes of quarterback Brandon Allen, running back Patrick Taylor Jr., wide receiver Chris Conley, tight end Eric Saubert, center Ben Bartch, defensive tackle Kevin Givens, middle linebacker Curtis Robinson, strongside linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, & cornerback Rock Ya-Sin should be players that would be minimum salary guys, on 1-year deals, with Givens, & Flannigan-Fowles being candidates for the Fourth Year Qualifying Contract, which pays the player more than the league minimum base salary, while only the minimum would counts against the cap, along with a maximum of $167,500 in bonuses for 2025.
When it comes to guys like quarterback Joshua Dobbs, running back Elijah Mitchell, center/right guard Jon Feliciano, left tackle/right tackle Jaylon Moore, & weakside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell most likely, in my opinion anyway, won’t be back in 2025, with the only player I can see the 49ers retaining being Moore.
As for the teams’ RFA & ERFA’s, running back Jordan Mason will likey get the 2nd-round tender, which would come in around $5.631 million, if the 2025 salary cap is $280 million, while tight end Jake Tonges’ ERFA tender would be just $1.03 million, & free safety Tayler Hawkins’ would be either $840,000 or $960,000, depending on if Hawkins ends up with an accrued season, but it’s possible that the 49ers waive Hawkins with an injury settlement.
If the 49ers were to tender Mason at the 2nd-round level, & Tonges at $1.03 million, along with Brock Purdy’s base salary going up from $1.1 million to $5.361 million, the 49ers salary cap for 2025 would be $9,786,684 under a projected adjusted salary cap of $309,839,640, with 39 players signed, or $293,316 over that projected adjusted cap with 51 players signed, with the remaining 12 players needed to get to 51 all making the league minimum of $840,000 each.
I should also note, that I’m including some adjustments/credits that the 49ers would get back as of now, which are below.
Veteran Base Salary Guarantees:
TE Eric Saubert – $54,722 of $300,000, but the 49ers, since Saubert’s base salary is fully guaranteed for making the week 1 53-man roster, will get back the entire $300,000.
C Ben Bartch – $62,500 of $302,400, again the 49ers will get back all of the $302,400 since Bartch’s salary is fully guaranteed.
CB Rock Ya-Sin – $54,722 of $985,000, and yes again, the 49ers will get back all of the $985,000, since his salary is fully guaranteed.
UDFA Base Salary Guarantees:
QB Tanner Mordecai – $12,500 of $100,000, as long as Mordecai sticks on the 49ers or another teams’ practice squad, the 49ers will get back all of the $100,000.
TE Mason Pline – $12,500 of $40,000, same as Mordecai, if he sticks with the 49ers or another teams’ practice squad, the 49ers will get the $40,000 back.
C Drake Nugent – $12,500 of $175,000, again, same as Mordecai & Pline, the 49ers will get the entire $175,000 back.
NT Evan Anderson – $12,500 of $250,000, the 49ers won’t get the entire $250,000 back, unless Anderson is elevated, or signed to the 49ers or another teams’ 53-man roster, since his salary for 2024 as part of the teams’ practice squad is $225,000 for the season.
FS Jaylen Mahoney – $12,500 of $27,000, the 49ers will also get the entire $27,000 back, as long as Mahoney stays with the 49ers, or another teams’ practice squad.
Per Game Roster Bonus Credits:
C Jon Feliciano – $117,647 out of $500,000, as Feliciano must miss the first 4 games, as he’s on injured reserve.
WLB Dre Greenlaw – $88,235 out of $500,000, as Greenlaw has to miss the first 4 games, as he’s on the PUP list, and it’s currently only 3 games worth, as he missed 1 game last year, thus his per game roster bonus counts $470,588 against the cap.
All in all, the 49ers will get back, as of now, $440,327, but they should get back at least $2,385,282 next year in adjustments/credits, which would give the 49ers $11,731,639 in cap room, with 39 players signed, or $1,651,639 in cap room, with 51 players signed.
I fully expect the 49ers to keep Deebo Samuel Sr., & George Kittle in 2025, while also looking into extending both, as well as Fred Warner, as the team can save as much as $12,344,423 in cap room from Samuel, $10.516 million from Kittle, & $13.116 million from Warner, they can also create up to $14.916 million in cap room by restructuring Javon Hargrave’s deal, as well as $10 million in cap room if they release Maliek Collins.
So, the 49ers shouldn’t have an issue in 2025 when it comes to the salary cap, as they can easily keep Samuel, Kittle, & Hargrave, even Collins, while extending Warner, the 49ers should also be able to retain Dre Greenlaw, Charvarius Ward, & Deommodore Lenoir.
Going forward, beyond 2025, the 49ers have the following in projected cap room.
2026: $75,901,088 on a $305 million projected cap, with 22 players signed, which are below, with their cap number.
RB Christian McCaffrey(2027)- $11,911,000
RB Isaac Guerendo(2027)- $1,251,132
WR Brandon Aiyuk(2028)- $16,223,000
WR Ricky Pearsall(2027)- $3,419,563
WR Jacob Cowing(2027)- $1,207,177
WR Ronnie Bell(2026)- $1,164,446
C Jake Brendel(2026)- $4,907,000
RG Dominick Puni(2027)- $1,554,695
LT Trent Williams(2026)- $37,796,781
DE Nick Bosa(2028)- $42,029,105
DE Robert Beal Jr.(2026)- $1,206,245
NT Javon Hargrave(2026)- $29,855,000
WLB Dee Winters(2026)- $1,178,333
MLB Fred Warner(2026)- $26,710,000
SLB Tatum Bethune(2027)- $1,095,452
CB Renardo Green(2027)- $1,742,693
CB Darrell Luter Jr.(2026)- $1,224,378
FS Ji’Ayir Brown(2026)- $1,716,847
SS Malik Mustapha(2027)- $1,259,734
SS George Odum(2026)- $3,341,668
PK Jake Moody(2026)- $1,687,663
P Mitch Wishnowsky(2026)- $3,075,000
The 49ers have $33.543 million in pending dead money.
FB Kyle Juszczyk – $1.674 million
WR Deebo Samuel Sr. – $8.493 million
WR Jauan Jennings – $8.21 million
TE George Kittle – $13.625 million
RT Colton McKivitz – $2.338 million
DE Leonard Floyd – $6.474 million
DE Yetur Gross-Matos – $4.959 million
DT Jordan Elliott – $1.395 million
If the 49ers do extend Deebo Samuel Sr., & George Kittle next offseason, they’ll be able to get their 2025 cap numbers somewhere in the range of what their dead money would be, maybe a little bit higher.
Of course, next year the 49ers will extend quarterback Brock Purdy’s contract, likely in the range of $55.5 million to $60 million a year, depending on when he signs the extension, and expect his 2025,2026 & 2027 cap numbers to be relatively low, likely in the range of $15 million range for 2025, $20 million range for 2026, & $25 million in 2027, while his 2028-2030 cap numbers would be near or higher than whatever his APY comes in at.
So, rest assured, the 49ers salary cap won’t be an issue for the foreseeable future, and their Super Bowl window isn’t going to close anytime soon, so stop listening to what the media pundits like former New York Jets’ general manager Mike Tannenbaum, & ESPN’s Mina Kimes says, or what others like Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport, Mike Garofolo, Tom Peliserro, Mike Florio, Albert Breer, & others say about the 49ers future, no disrespect to them, but it’s clear that they have no clue how the NFL salary cap works, except for Tannenbaum, but there’s a reason why he was fired, I mean he suggested yesterday that the Cowboys should trade multiple 1st-round picks, & recently extended WR CeeDee Lamb to get to the 1st-overall pick to select Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, as this makes zero sense as to why the Cowboys, not that I care what they do, would trade Lamb away a year after signing him, while taking away a key weapon for a rookie like Sanders.
Lastly, the 49ers can indeed keep their core together for as long as they want to, which would consist of the following players making $10 million or more a year, quarterback Brock Purdy($55 million to $60 million APY), running back Christian McCaffrey($19 million APY), wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk($30 million APY), & Deebo Samuel Sr.($23.85 million to $25 million APY), tight end George Kittle($15 million to $18 million APY), left tackle Trent Williams($28.25 million APY), defensive end Nick Bosa($34 million APY), weakside linebacker Dre Greenlaw($10 million to $12 million APY), middle linebacker Fred Warner($19.045 million to $21 million APY), & cornerbacks Charvarius Ward($2o million to $22 million APY), & De0mmodore Lenoir($10 million to $12 million APY), while also having young guys like running back/kick returner Isaac Guerendo, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, wide receiver/punt returner Jacob Cowing, center/left guard Nick Zakelj, left guard Spencer Burford, right guard Dominick Puni, defensive end Robert Beal Jr., nose tackle Kalia Davis, weakside linebacker Dee Winters, strongside linebacker Tatum Bethune, cornerbacks Renardo Green, & Darrell Luter Jr., free safety Ji’Ayir Brown, strong safety Malik Mustapha, & place kicker Jake Moody on rookie contracts being developed into potential long term starters, while also developing running back Jordan Mason, & tight end Jake Tonges, of which I would actually sign Mason to a multi-year deal next offseason that would lower his 2025 RFA tender number.
The 49ers can also supplement their core players, & young players on rookie deals by having veterans like fullback Kyle Juszcyzk, center Jake Brendel, defensive ends Leonard Floyd, & Yetur Gross-Matos, defensive tackles Maliek Collins, & Jordan Elliott, nose tackle Javon Hargrave, strong safety/special teams ace George Odum, punter Mitch Wishnowsky, & long snapper Taybor Pepper around for at least a couple more years, before the 49ers eventually either sign or draft young replacements/future long term starters & replacements.
Of course, the 49ers have a few promising young players on their practice squad that I like a lot, quarterback Tanner Mordecai, wide receivers Tay Martin, & Terrace Marshall Jr., tight ends Brayden Willis, & Mason Pline, center Drake Nugent, nose tackle Evan Anderson, cornerback Chase Lucas, & free safety Jaylen Mahoney that could prove to be solid depth players for the long term.
And with that said, I thank you for reading, and you can follow me on X/Twitter @49erscap.
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