With the 49ers 2024 season not going the way that the team, or fans wanted it to go, I think it’s time to look towards 2025, what their salary cap looks like, so get ready for a long article, just a heads up.
As of now, the 49ers have 84 players signed right now for this season, counting $218,420,922 against the salary cap, along with $27,845,081 in dead money, for a total cap commitment of $246,266,003, putting them, as of today, $51,092,831 under their 2024 adjusted salary cap of $297,358,834, and below are the current 84 players signed, with their 2024 salary cap number.
53-Man Roster:
- QB 13 Brock Purdy(2025)- $1,004,253
- QB 17 Brandon Allen(2024)- $1,900,000
- QB 5 Joshua Dobbs(2024)- $2,250,000
- RB/KR 31 Isaac Guerendo(2027)- $971,132
- RB/KR 32 Patrick Taylor Jr.(2024)- $134,400
- RB 47 Israel Abanikanda(2026)- $254,167
- FB 44 Kyle Juszcyzk(2025)- $3,606,750
- WR 1 Deebo Samuel Sr.(2025)- $12,226,753
- WR 15 Jauan Jennings(2025)- $2,774,941
- WR 18 Chris Conley(2024)- $1,550,000
- WR 14 Ricky Pearsall(2027)- $2,279,709
- WR/PR 19 Jacob Cowing(2027)- $927,177
- TE 85 George Kittle(2025)- $12,205,575
- TE 82 Eric Saubert(2024)- $1,056,250
- TE 88 Jake Tonges(2024)- $915,000
- TE 9 Brayden Willis(2024)- $660,833
- C 64 Jake Brendel(2026)- $3,260,000
- C 63 Nick Zakelj(2025)- $1,032,590
- LG 65 Aaron Banks(2024)- $3,742,110
- LG 74 Spencer Burford(2025)- $1,153,014
- RG 77 Dominick Puni(2027)- $1,036,463
- LT 71 Trent Williams(2026)- $21,835,542
- LT/RT 76 Jaylon Moore(2024)- $1,135,759
- RT 68 Colton McKivitz(2025)- $2,913,000
- RT 60 Sebastian Gutierrez(2024)- $254,167
- DE 97 Nick Bosa(2028)- $14,671,000
- DE 56 Leonard Floyd(2025)- $3,418,000
- DE 94 Yetur Gross-Matos(2025)- $3,328,000
- DE 51 Robert Beal Jr.(2026)- $976,245
- DE 91 Sam Okuayinonu(2024)- $762,500
- DT 99 Maliek Collins(2025)- $3,038,588
- DT/NT 92 Jordan Elliott(2025)- $2,140,000
- DT 50 Khalil Davis(2024)- $602,941
- NT 93 Kalia Davis(2025)- $1,018,003
- NT 69 Evan Anderson(2024)- $485,833
- WLB 57 Dre Greenlaw(2024)- $9,602,970
- WLB 53 Dee Winters(2026)- $948,333
- MLB 54 Fred Warner(2026)- $12,649,000
- SLB 59 De’Vondre Campbell(2024)- $2,260,000
- SLB 45 Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles(2024)- $1,292,500
- CB 7 Charvarius Ward(2024)- $18,401,000
- CB 2 Deommodore Lenoir(2029)- $4,871,217
- CB 22 Isaac Yiadom(2024)- $1,900,000
- CB 0 Renardo Green(2027)- $1,161,795
- CB 33 Rock Ya-Sin(2024)- $1,056,250
- CB 35 Nick McCloud(2024)- $351,667
- FS 27 Ji’Ayir Brown(2026)- $1,226,319
- FS/SS 43 Tashaun Gipson Sr.(2024)- $383,056
- SS 29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024)- $4,950,038
- SS/FS 6 Malik Mustapha(2027)- $979,734
- PK 4 Jake Moody(2026)- $1,205,473
- P 40 Pat O’Donnell(2024)- $437,778
- LS 46 Taybor Pepper(2025)- $1,300,000
Injured Reserve:
- RB 23 Christian McCaffrey(2027)- $6,682,588
- RB 24 Jordan Mason(2024)- $885,001
- RB 25 Elijah Mitchell(2024)- $1,100,893
- WR 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2028)- $5,275,000
- C/RG 55 Jon Feliciano(2024)- $2,280,000
- C/LG 78 Ben Bartch(2024)- $985,000
- DT/NT 90 Kevin Givens(2024)- $1,192,500
- NT 98 Javon Hargrave(2026)- $9,270,882
- MLB 36 Curtis Robinson(2024)- $630,000
- SLB 48 Tatum Bethune(2027)- $743,230
- CB 28 Darrell Luter Jr.(2026)- $900,045
- CB 20 Ambry Thomas(2024)- $1,425,154
- FS/SS 30 George Odum(2026)- $2,561,666
- P 3 Mitch Wishnowsky(2026)- $2,825,000
PUP:
- DE 95 Drake Jackson(2025)- $1,607,616
Practice Squad:
- QB 4 Tanner Mordecai(2024)- $225,000
- RB 49 Ke’Shawn Vaughn*(2024)- $159,844
- WR 81 Trent Taylor*(2024)- $340,322
- WR 83 Terique Owens(2024)- $175,000
- WR 84 Russell Gage*(2024)- $151,200
- WR 10 Ronnie Bell(2024)- $62,500
- TE 89 Mason Pline(2024)- $225,000
- C 66 Drake Nugent(2024)- $225,000
- RT 67 Isaac Alarcón**(2024)- $0
- DE 58 Alex Barrett(2024)- $225,000
- DE 96 Jonathan Garvin*(2024)- $117,600
- NT 75 Nesta Jade Silvera(2024)- $137,500
- MLB 41 Jalen Graham(2024)- $189,167
- SLB 47 DaShaun White(2024)- $225,000
- CB 26 Chase Lucas(2024)- $225,000
- FS 38 Jaylen Mahoney(2024)- $320,000
As of now, the 49ers should be able to carryover at least $48 million of that $51 million in cap room into 2025, where they have 38 players signed, accounting for $223,675,989, plus another $34,970,802 in dead money, for a total cap commitment of $258,646,791, putting them $21,353,209 under a projected 2024 salary cap of $280 million, which could come in lower, or even higher, it all depends on what the 2024 revenue looks like.
Below are the 38 players signed, with their cap number.
- QB 13 Brock Purdy(2025)- $1,119,253 (Base Salary will escalate from $1.1 million to whatever the 2nd-round RFA tender level is, this is due to Brock making last season’s Pro Bowl)
- RB 23 Christian McCaffrey(2027)- $9,423,647)
- RB/KR 31 Isaac Guerendo(2027)- $1,136,132
- RB 25 Israel Abanikanda(2026)- $1,030,000
- FB 44 Kyle Juszcyzk(2025)- $6,496,750
- WR 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2028)- $10,882,176
- WR 1 Deebo Samuel Sr.(2025)- $15,913,741
- WR 15 Jauan Jennings(2025)- $4,184,471
- WR 14 Ricky Pearsall(2027)- $2,849,636
- WR/PR 19 Jacob Cowing(2027)- $1,092,177
- TE 85 George Kittle(2025)- $22,026,176
- C 64 Jake Brendel(2026)- $3,285,000
- C 63 Nick Zakelj(2025)- $1,147,590
- LG 74 Spencer Burford(2025)- $1,268,014 (Base Salary will escalate from $1.1 million to whatever the Original Round RFA tender level is, this is due to him playing enough snaps to qualify for the increase for his 4th-year)
- RG 77 Dominick Puni(2027)- $1,295,579
- LT 71 Trent Williams(2026)- $21,792,306
- RT 68 Colton McKivitz(2025)- $4,678,000
- DE 97 Nick Bosa(2028)- $20,430,870
- DE 56 Leonard Floyd(2025)- $10,108,000
- DE 94 Yetur Gross-Matos(2025)- $9,473,000
- DE 51 Robert Beal Jr.(2026)- $1,091,245
- DE 95 Drake Jackson(2025)- $1,847,852
- DT 99 Maliek Collins(2025)- $4,762,000
- DT 92 Jordan Elliott(2025)- $3,406,176
- NT 98 Javon Hargrave(2026)- $9,687,353
- NT 93 Kalia Davis(2025)- $1,133,003
- WLB 53 Dee Winters(2026)- $1,063,333
- MLB 54 Fred Warner(2026)- $29,174,000
- SLB 48 Tatum Bethune(2027)- $980,452
- CB 2 Deommodore Lenoir(2029)- $5,875,882
- CB 0 Renardo Green(2027)- $1,452,244
- CB 28 Darrell Luter Jr.(2026)- $1,108,378
- FS 27 Ji’Ayir Brown(2026)- $1,471,583
- FS/SS 30 George Odum(2026)- $3,891,666
- SS/FS 6 Malik Mustapha(2027)- $1,144,734
- PK 4 Jake Moody(2026)- $1,446,568
- P 3 Mitch Wishnowsky(2026)- $3,050,000
- LS 46 Taybor Pepper(2025)- $1,430,000
The 49ers will have the following free agents for 2025.
UFA:
QB Joshua Dobbs
QB Brandon Allen
RB Elijah Mitchell
RB Patrick Taylor Jr.
WR Chris Conley
TE Eric Saubert
C Ben Bartch
LG Aaron Banks
RG Jon Feliciano
LT Jaylon Moore
DT Kevin Givens
DT Khalil Davis
SLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
WLB Dre Greenlaw
WLB De’Vondre Campbell Sr.
CB Charvarius Ward
CB Isaac Yiadom
CB Rock Ya-Sin
CB Ambry Thomas
CB Nick McCloud
FS Tashaun Gipson Sr.
SS Talanoa Hufanga
P Pat O’Donnell
RFA:
RB Jordan Mason
ERFA:
TE Jake Tonges
TE Brayden Willis
RT Sebastian Gutierrez
DE Sam Okuayinonu
NT Evan Anderson
MLB Curtis Robinson
SFA:
QB Tanner Mordecai
RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
WR Trent Taylor
WR Terique Owens
WR Russell Gage
WR Ronnie Bell
TE Mason Pline
C Drake Nugent
RT Isaac Alarcón
DE Alex Barrett
DE Jonathan Garvin
NT Nesta Jade Silvera
MLB Jalen Graham
SLB DaShaun White
CB Chase Lucas
FS Jaylen Mahoney
I believe it’s a certainty, as long as they stick with the 49ers practice squad, that they will sign all 16 players to reserve/futures deals, with them listed below, with projected 2025 base salaries.
QB Tanner Mordecai – $840,000
RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn – $1,030,000
WR Trent Taylor – $1,030,000
WR Terique Owens – $840,000
WR Russell Gage – $1,030,000
WR Ronnie Bell – $1,030,000
TE Mason Pline – $840,000
C Drake Nugent – $840,000
RT Isaac Alarcón – $840,000
DE Alex Barrett – $960,000
DE Jonathan Garvin – $960,000
NT Nesta Jade Silvera – $960,000
MLB Jalen Graham – $1,030,000
SLB DaShaun White – $840,000
CB Chase Lucas – $1,030,000
FS Jaylen Mahoney – $840,000
That’s a total of $15.08 million for 16 reserve/futures contracts.
Next up are the 49ers tender amounts for their ERFAs and their lone RFA, which they’ll likely tender all 7 of them, with their salaries being listed below.
RB Jordan Mason – $5,361,000 (2nd-round RFA tender)
TE Jake Tonges – $1,030,000
TE Brayden Willis – $1,030,000
RT Sebastian Gutierrez – $1,030,000
DE Sam Okuayinonu – $1,030,000
NT Evan Anderson – $960,000
MLB Curtis Robinson – $1,100,000
That’s a total of $11.541 million for 7 ERFA/RFAs, which would, with the reserve/futures contracts, put the 49ers $3,492,209 under a projected salary cap of $280 million, with 61 players signed, and $5,267,791 over that $280 million cap if all 61 players counted against the cap.
Now, when we add in projected carryover, which right now would be their current cap room, which is $51,092,831, plus adjustments/credits, which would be $4,057,586 as of now, they’ll most likely have somewhere in the $4,871,753 range, that includes $650,000 in potential LTBE incentives not being achieved, both Deebo Samuel Sr., & Charvarius Ward, who count $150,000, & $500,000 respectively, so they’d have $59,456,793 in top 51 rule, with 61 players signed, and $50,969,793 if all 61 players were to count against the cap, again like when the season begins.
Now, if the salary cap comes in at $280 million, the RFA tenders would look like this.
1st-Round RFA Tender: $7.479 million
2nd-Round RFA Tender: $5.361 million
Original Round RFA Tender: $3.471 million
Right of First Refusal Tender: $3.273 million
Because Brock Purdy was named to the Pro Bowl last year, and because Spencer Burford played enough offensive snaps in the first 2 seasons of his rookie deal, both will be see their $1.1 million base salaries escalate, for Purdy to the 2nd-round level, which would be $5.361 million, and $3.471 million for Burford, which if we adds these into their cap numbers, they 49ers would now have $52,824,793 in top 51 rule cap room, and $44,064,793 with all 61 players counting.
Below is the 2025 salary cap sheet with all 61 players I’ve mentioned, including Purdy, & Burford’s base salary escalations.
Jsy # | Name | Pos. | Signed | Cap Number | Prorated | Roster | Workout | LTBE | Base |
54 | Warner, Fred | MLB | 2026 | $29,174,000 | $10,924,000 | $500,000 | $100,000 | $0 | $17,650,000 |
85 | Kittle, George | TE | 2025 | $22,026,176 | $7,085,000 | $441,176 | $100,000 | $0 | $14,400,000 |
71 | Williams, Trent | LT | 2026 | $21,792,306 | $19,863,777 | $573,529 | $100,000 | $0 | $1,255,000 |
97 | Bosa, Nick | DE/LEO/DT | 2028 | $20,430,870 | $18,849,105 | $411,765 | $0 | $0 | $1,170,000 |
1 | Samuel Sr., Deebo | WR/RB/KR | 2025 | $15,913,741 | $13,837,859 | $705,882 | $200,000 | $0 | $1,170,000 |
11 | Aiyuk, Brandon | WR/PR | 2028 | $10,882,176 | $9,171,000 | $441,176 | $100,000 | $0 | $1,170,000 |
56 | Floyd, Leonard | LEO | 2025 | $10,108,000 | $2,158,000 | $0 | $50,000 | $0 | $7,900,000 |
98 | Hargrave, Javon | NT/DT | 2026 | $9,687,353 | $7,355,000 | $132,353 | $100,000 | $0 | $2,100,000 |
94 | Gross-Matos, Yetur | DE/DT | 2025 | $9,473,000 | $1,653,000 | $330,000 | $100,000 | $0 | $7,390,000 |
23 | McCaffrey, Christian | RB/WR | 2027 | $9,423,647 | $7,851,000 | $117,647 | $200,000 | $0 | $1,255,000 |
44 | Juszczyk, Kyle | FB | 2025 | $6,496,750 | $1,896,750 | $400,000 | $100,000 | $0 | $4,100,000 |
2 | Lenoir, Deommodore | CB | 2029 | $5,875,882 | $3,900,000 | $705,882 | $100,000 | $0 | $1,170,000 |
13 | Purdy, Brock | QB | 2025 | $5,380,253 | $19,253 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $5,361,000 |
24 | Mason, Jordan | RB/KR | 2024 | $5,361,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $5,361,000 |
99 | Collins, Maliek | DT | 2025 | $4,762,000 | $3,007,000 | $500,000 | $0 | $0 | $1,255,000 |
68 | McKivitz, Colton | RT/LT/LG/RG | 2025 | $4,678,000 | $828,000 | $510,000 | $150,000 | $0 | $3,190,000 |
15 | Jennings, Jauan | WR | 2025 | $4,184,471 | $2,363,000 | $551,471 | $100,000 | $0 | $1,170,000 |
30 | Odum, George | FS/SS | 2026 | $3,891,666 | $1,216,666 | $260,000 | $100,000 | $0 | $2,315,000 |
74 | Burford, Spencer | LG/RG/LT/RT | 2025 | $3,639,014 | $168,014 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $3,471,000 |
92 | Elliott, Jordan | DT/NT | 2025 | $3,406,176 | $465,000 | $441,176 | $50,000 | $0 | $2,450,000 |
64 | Brendel, Jake | C/LG/RG | 2026 | $3,285,000 | $1,420,000 | $510,000 | $100,000 | $0 | $1,255,000 |
3 | Wishnowsky, Mitch | P | 2026 | $3,050,000 | $550,000 | $0 | $50,000 | $0 | $2,450,000 |
14 | Pearsall, Ricky | WR/PR | 2027 | $2,849,636 | $1,484,709 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,364,927 |
95 | Jackson, Drake | LEO/DT | 2025 | $1,874,852 | $366,344 | $0 | $80,000 | $0 | $1,428,508 |
27 | Brown, Ji’Ayir | FS/SS | 2026 | $1,471,583 | $231,055 | $0 | $50,000 | $0 | $1,190,528 |
0 | Green, Renardo | CB | 2027 | $1,452,244 | $366,795 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,085,449 |
4 | Moody, Jake | PK | 2026 | $1,446,568 | $214,378 | $0 | $50,000 | $0 | $1,182,190 |
46 | Pepper, Taybor | LS | 2025 | $1,430,000 | $150,000 | $0 | $25,000 | $0 | $1,255,000 |
77 | Puni, Dominick | RG/LG/LT/C | 2027 | $1,295,579 | $241,463 | $0 | $50,000 | $0 | $1,004,116 |
63 | Zakelj, Nick | C/LG/RG | 2025 | $1,147,590 | $47,590 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,100,000 |
6 | Mustapha, Malik | SS/FS | 2027 | $1,144,734 | $184,734 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $960,000 |
31 | Guerendo, Isaac | RB/KR | 2027 | $1,136,132 | $176,132 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $960,000 |
93 | Davis, Kalia | NT | 2025 | $1,133,003 | $33,003 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,100,000 |
28 | Luter Jr., Darrell | CB | 2026 | $1,108,378 | $78,378 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,030,000 |
96 | Garvin, Jonathan | LEO | 2025 | $1,100,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,100,000 |
36 | Robinson, Curtis | MLB/WLB/SLB | 2024 | $1,100,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,100,000 |
19 | Cowing, Jacob | WR/PR/KR | 2027 | $1,092,177 | $132,177 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $960,000 |
51 | Beal Jr., Robert | LEO | 2026 | $1,091,245 | $61,245 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,030,000 |
53 | Winters, Dee | WLB/SLB | 2026 | $1,063,333 | $33,333 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,030,000 |
47 | Abanikanda, Israel | RB | 2026 | $1,030,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,030,000 |
49 | Vaughn, Ke’Shawn | RB | 2025 | $1,030,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,030,000 |
81 | Taylor, Trent | WR/PR/KR | 2025 | $1,030,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,030,000 |
84 | Gage, Russell | WR | 2025 | $1,030,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,030,000 |
10 | Bell, Ronnie | WR/KR/PR | 2025 | $1,030,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,030,000 |
41 | Graham, Jalen | MLB/WLB/SLB | 2025 | $1,030,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,030,000 |
26 | Lucas, Chase | CB | 2025 | $1,030,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,030,000 |
88 | Tonges, Jake | TE | 2024 | $1,030,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,030,000 |
91 | Okuayinonu, Sam | LEO/DT | 2024 | $1,030,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,030,000 |
9 | Willis, Brayden | TE | 2024 | $1,030,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,030,000 |
60 | Gutierrez, Sebastian | RT/LT | 2024 | $1,030,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $960,000 |
48 | Bethune, Tatum | SLB/MLB | 2027 | $980,452 | $20,452 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $960,000 |
75 | Silvera, Nesta Jade | NT/DT | 2025 | $960,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $960,000 |
58 | Barrett, Alex | LEO | 2025 | $960,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $960,000 |
69 | Anderson, Evan | NT | 2024 | $960,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $960,000 |
47 | White, DaShaun | SLB | 2025 | $840,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $840,000 |
4 | Mordecai, Tanner | QB | 2025 | $840,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $840,000 |
83 | Owens, Terique | WR | 2025 | $840,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $840,000 |
89 | Pline, Mason | TE | 2025 | $840,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $840,000 |
66 | Nugent, Drake | C | 2025 | $840,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $840,000 |
67 | Alarcón, Isaac | RT/LT | 2025 | $840,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $840,000 |
38 | Mahoney, Jaylen | FS/SS/CB | 2025 | $840,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $840,000 |
Next up is the cap sheet for the teams total money committed, dead money, and cap room.
Total | $256,928,989 |
Dead | $34,970,802 |
Total and Dead | $291,899,791 |
2025 Cap | $280,000,000 |
2025 Adjusted Cap | $335,964,584 |
Top 51 Rule | $283,139,791 |
Cap Space | $52,824,793 |
Effective Cap Room | $44,064,793 |
Projected 2024 Carryover | $51,092,831 |
Projected 2024 Adjustments | $4,871,753 |
Players under contract | 61 Players |
The 49ers have some options in 2025 for savings salary cap room, but not many, as they already restructured Deebo Samuel Sr., Jake Brendel, & Maliek Collins’ deals that included adjustments to their 2025 cap numbers, lowering them significantly, while Trent Williams new revised 3-year, $82.66 million lowered his 2025 cap number by over $10 million, & Christian McCaffrey’s extension also lowered his 2025 cap number significantly, but the other options are below.
TE George Kittle – $10.516 million savings ($13.145 million signing bonus, prorated at $2.629 million from 2025-2029) with a Restructure or Extension.
MLB Fred Warner – $13.184 million savings ($16.48 million signing bonus, prorated at $3.296 million from 2025-2029) with a Restructure or Extension.
Of the above players, I’d expect the 49ers to look to extend both Kittle, & Warner, while they would be able to release nose tackle Javon Hargrave with a post June 1st cut designation, while saving $2,312,353, but they wouldn’t see that money until June 2nd, that’s if Hargrave is healthy, as he redid his deal, saving the 49ers $17.8 million in 2025, while lowering his base salary to just $2.1 million, enough to be protected in case he’s injured, while having dead money hits of $7.355 million in 2025, & $17.485 million in 2026, saving the team $12.37 million in 2026.
As for players who restructured their deals, or signed new deals this offseason, that affected the 2025 salary cap, the 49ers won’t be able to offload Samuel before June 1, as they’d lose $29.229 million in 2025 cap room, while Brendel losses the team $2.093 million with a pre June 1 cut, and Collins would lose the team $670,000 with a pre June 1 cut.
If the 49ers wanted to offload these players after June 1, they’d save just $441,176 from Samuel, $1.765 million from Brendel, and $3.404 million from Collins, but that would also mean that they’d have significant dead money in 2026, which as of now, Samuel, & Collins do have pending 2026 dead money, while Brendel has dead money pending for 2027, but if cut post June 1 without designation, the savings could go down by $100,000, as he would likely earn his workout bonus.
As for Williams, & McCaffrey, the team would lose $35,031,252 if they cut Williams pre June 1, while only saving $573,529 with a post June 1 cut, as for McCaffrey, they’d lose $23,940,353 with a pre June 1 cut, and only save $117,647 with a post June 1 cut.
The savings for McCaffrey, Samuel, & Williams would go up by $200,000 for McCaffrey, & Samuel, and $100,000 for Williams if they were to do a post June 1 cut designation, as those players have workout bonuses in their deals, but you’re only able to do 2 post June 1 cut designations once the new league year kicks in, which will be in mid-March.
Another thing to consider for Samuel, is he’s due a $15,430,530 option bonus by the 10th day of the new league year, but it’s already guaranteed, so they would have to trade him before the 10th day of the new league year to get out of his contract, but I don’t know what kind of value the 49ers could get for Samuel, as the team who trades for him would need to pay out that option bonus, which prorates over 5-years, and with Samuel having a deal that voids after 2025, the new team would on the hook for $12,344,424 in dead money for 2026, unless the two sides agree to a new extension, which I still believe the 49ers will look to do with Samuel.
So basically, those 5 players are, in my eyes, guaranteed to be here in 2025, as team losses cap room on all 5 players, while only saving a total of $6,031,353 with post June 1 cuts or trades, while losing 4 either great or good players, and a serviceable interior offensive lineman, and would be settled with a ton of dead money in 2026, $24.258 million for McCaffrey, $30.079 million for Samuel, $3.958 million for Brendel, $35,704,781 for Williams, & $3.404 million for Collins, a total of $98,073,781 in 2026 dead money for those 5 players.
The biggest contract that the 49ers need to address, besides Kittle, & Warner’s, is Brock Purdy, who is looking for a big payday, and I don’t blame him, he’s helped take the team to 2 NFC Championship games, and 1 Super Bowl, while playing really good, even great, sure this season has been a down year, but this feels like 2020 all over again, injury after injury, where the 49ers couldn’t overcome them, so I really see this season as a wash for the 49ers, Kyle Shanahan, & John Lynch, so don’t expect them to even think about parting with Shanahan or Lynch.
Back to Purdy, who will command in the $60 million to $65 million range, and I believe he’s well worth it, unlike some fans I do see Brock as the teams franchise quarterback, and the teams future to build around, and unlike the mainstream and even local media, I don’t see the 49ers do anything drastic to their roster, like releasing high priced players, like Samuel, not when Brandon Aiyuk is going to be coming off a torn ACL.
When it comes to quarterback Brock Purdy’s impending extension, which will come in somewhere in the $60 million to $65 million a year, on average, definitely a 5-year extension in length, while I’d expect him to get a deal that’s structured similar to Trevor Lawrence’s deal, where Lawrence has cap hits of $15,029,725 in 2024, $17 million in 2025, & $24 million in 2026, so expect Purdy to have similar cap numbers for the first 3 years of the deal, only instead of from 2024-2026, like with Lawrence, it’d go from 2025-2027 for Purdy.
As for some sort of contract breakdown, guaranteed money wise, I’d expect somewhere in the $235 million range, in total guaranteed, with somewhere in the $60 million to $70 million signing bonus, with a minimum base salary of $1.1 million in 2025, $1.215 million in 2026, & $1.26 million in 2027, with yearly per game roster bonuses in the $750,000 range, and yearly $100,000 workout bonuses, which wouldn’t start until 2026, for both the per game roster bonuses, & workout bonuses, along with 2 option bonuses, say $25 million in 2026, & $20 million in 2027, with those option bonuses being fully guaranteed, and I’d expect his base salaries for 2024-2027, & per game roster bonuses & workout bonuses for 2025 & 2026 to also be fully guaranteed, which would add up to between $110.275 million to $120.275 million fully guaranteed of his total guaranteed money.
I expect the 49ers to also fully guarantee part of Purdy’s 2028 base salary, to get his fully guaranteed money up into the $135 million range out of the $235 million in total guaranteed money, while I expect the 49ers to do something similar to what the Jaguars did with Trevor Lawrence’s new deal, having more than 2 option bonuses, which would become fully guaranteed on April 1st of the previous year that the option bonus would be due.
So, Purdy’s cap numbers from 2025-2027 would be $13.1 million with a $60 million signing bonus, or $15.1 million with a $70 million signing bonus for 2025, $19.065 million with a $60 million signing bonus, or $21.065 million with a $70 million signing bonus for 2026, and $23.11 million with a $60 million signing bonus, or $25.11 million with a $70 million signing bonus for 2027, while the remaining years would come in much higher, as do all veteran extensions that the 49ers end up giving out.
So, if we take away say $12 million from the salary cap room, but also lower his base salary down to $1.1 million, the league minimum, the team would have $45,085,793 in top 51 rule cap room, and $36,325,793 in cap room with all 61 players signed, more than enough to bring back guys like left guard Aaron Banks, weakside linebacker Dre Greenlaw, cornerback Charvarius Ward, & strong safety Talanoa Hufanga.
Now, I’m not saying they’ll bring back all 4 of these guys, as I don’t know if the 49ers want to spend top interior offensive line money on Banks, or pay 2 cornerbacks nearly $20 million or more a year, or going near the top of the safety market, where I do see Greenlaw back, he should be the teams must re-sign player, now that Deommodore Lenoir has been extended, so I hope the 49ers are smart, and re-sign Greenlaw to a multi-year extension, in the neighborhood of $13 million a year, as he’s really earned it since signing that 2-year extension a few years back.
And for those who don’t think it’s possible to have 10-12 players on a roster making more than $10 million a year, well you’re wrong, because if the Eagles can do it, so can the 49ers, and the Eagles have a $51 million a year quarterback, 2 wide receivers over $25 million a year, 3 offensive lineman over $20 million a year, a running back at over $13 million a year, and several others making more than $10 million a year on average.
The 49ers will most likely look to bring in maybe a high priced free agent or 2, but not the top tier players, not after what happened when they signed Hargrave, and well, 2-years in, and they haven’t gotten anything out of it to be honest, so expect them to continue to look for gems, like how they got edge rushers Leonard Floyd, & Yetur Gross-Matos on deals averaging $0 million, and $9 million, respectively, or guys like defensive tackles Jordan Elliott, and Maliek Collins, who they got for a 7th-round pick from the Texans, while Elliott signed a 2-year deal, worth $3.5 million.
I’d expect them to most likely look into bringing back one of their quarterbacks Brandon Allen, & Joshua Dobbs, running back Patrick Taylor Jr., wide receiver Chris Conley, tight end Eric Saubert, center/left guard Ben Bartch, left tackle/right tackle Jaylon Moore, potentially cornerbacks Isaac Yiadom, & Rock Ya-Sin, & free safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. on cheap 1-2 year deals, while guys like running back Elijah Mitchell, defensive tackle Khalil Davis, weakside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell Sr., strongside linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, cornerback Ambry Thomas, & punter Pat O’Donnell would be let to walk/test free agency.
Speaking of Campbell, who refused to come into the 49ers-Rams game on Thursday night, I don’t expect him to be with the 49ers much longer, this is something that the 49ers can suspend him for, which would be conduct detrimental to the team, but I’m unsure if they will/can recover any of his signing bonus, or any of his remaining base salary not paid out already.
As for center/right guard Jon Feliciano, I’d expect the 49ers to just let him walk or retire, as his knee never recovered like both the 49ers & Feliciano thought it would, so I doubt he’s in the 49ers future plans.
When it comes to the 49ers 2025 NFL Draft, they really should look into adding help at tight end, center, right tackle, defensive end, defensive tackle, & cornerback, that’s if the 49ers do re-sign Greenlaw, & Hufanga, which would make linebacker, & safety not a top priority.
Now, below are the 49ers current projected 2025 draft picks for.
Round/Pick | 25 Base | 25 Bonus | 25 Cap | 26 Base | 26 Bonus | 26 Cap | 27 Base | 27 Bonus | 27 Cap | 28 Base | 28 Bonus | 28 Cap |
1st(#17th) | $840,000 | $2,147,427 | $2,987,427 | $1,588,857 | $2,147,427 | $3,736,284 | $2,333,714 | $2,147,427 | $4,481,141 | $3,080,571 | $2,147,427 | $5,227,998 |
2nd(#48th) | $840,000 | $687,157 | $1,527,157 | $1,221,789 | $687,157 | $1,908,946 | $1,603,578 | $687,157 | $2,290,735 | $1,985,367 | $687,157 | $2,672,524 |
3rd(#79th) | $840,000 | $276,389 | $1,116,389 | $1,119,097 | $276,389 | $1,395,486 | $1,398,194 | $276,389 | $1,674,583 | $1,677,291 | $276,389 | $1,953,680 |
3rd(#100th) | $840,000 | $230,644 | $1,070,644 | $1,107,661 | $230,644 | $1,338,305 | $1,375,322 | $230,644 | $1,605,966 | $1,642,983 | $230,644 | $1,873,627 |
4th(#115th) | $840,000 | $206,550 | $1,046,550 | $1,005,000 | $206,550 | $1,211,550 | $1,120,000 | $206,550 | $1,326,550 | $1,235,000 | $206,550 | $1,441,550 |
4th(#137th) | $840,000 | $137,006 | $977,006 | $1,005,000 | $137,006 | $1,142,006 | $1,120,000 | $137,006 | $1,257,006 | $1,235,000 | $137,006 | $1,372,006 |
6th(#192nd) | $840,000 | $47,504 | $887,504 | $1,005,000 | $47,504 | $1,052,504 | $1,120,000 | $47,504 | $1,167,504 | $1,235,000 | $47,504 | $1,282,504 |
7th(#232nd) | $840,000 | $26,970 | $866,970 | $1,005,000 | $26,970 | $1,031,970 | $1,120,000 | $26,970 | $1,146,970 | $1,235,000 | $26,970 | $1,261,970 |
7th(#249th) | $840,000 | $20,921 | $860,921 | $1,005,000 | $20,921 | $1,025,921 | $1,120,000 | $20,921 | $1,140,921 | $1,235,000 | $20,921 | $1,255,921 |
7th(#254th) | $840,000 | $20,921 | $860,921 | $1,005,000 | $20,921 | $1,025,921 | $1,120,000 | $20,921 | $1,140,921 | $1,235,000 | $20,921 | $1,255,921 |
TOTAL | $8,400,000 | $3,801,489 | $12,201,489 | $11,067,404 | $3,801,489 | $14,868,893 | $13,430,808 | $3,801,489 | $17,232,297 | $15,796,212 | $3,801,489 | $19,597,701 |
Due to the top 51 rule, the 49ers 1st 6 picks would count against the top 51 rule, with the remaining 4 picks prorated bonuses would also count, but not their entire cap figures, so the 49ers would need $8,841,489 in 2025 top 51 salary cap room to sign their current 10 projected draft picks, but it would actually go down by $6.04 million, as the top 6 picks would replace the bottom 6 players on the top 51, which would be Alex Barrett, & Tatum Bethune, who would have $960,000 base salaries, and Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Trent Taylor, Russell Gage, & Brayden Willis, who would all have $1.03 million base salaries.
Thus, the 49ers would only need $2,801,489 in top 51 rule cap room to sign all 10 2025 draft picks that they currently are scheduled to have.
As far as outside free agents go, it’s way to early, but the team will need to look for help depth wise at many positions, and potential starting players if guys like Banks, Greenlaw, Ward, & Hufanga don’t re-sign.
Lastly, I personally wouldn’t even release anyone at this point next offseason, but I know there are many people who want to see a complete overhaul, but remember the pre-Shanahan/Lynch days, where there was infighting, bad hires like Chip Kelly & Jim Tomsula, bad GM like Trent Baalke, who now Jaguars fans want gone as well, or a head coach who just isn’t likely to stay in the NFL like Jim Harbaugh, who by the way had just as good of a roster as Kyle has, & didn’t get the job done either.
And there you guys go, my deep dive into the 49ers 2025 salary cap situation as of today, as always, thank you for reading, you can follow me on X/Twitter @49erscap & on Blue Sky App @49erscap.bsky.social for more salary cap information & tidbits.