With the 2021 season now halfway done, I think it’s a good time to take a look a look at the 49ers 2021 & 2022 salary cap situations.
As of now, the 49ers have $3,871,939 in salary cap room for 2021, with 82 players signed, and they, as of now, would need $949,265 to payback 13 players’ per game roster bonuses that don’t count against the cap, with them listed below.
QB Jimmy Garoppolo – $450,000
FB Kyle Juszczyzk – $23,529
TE George Kittle – $17,647
TE Ross Dwelley – $11,765
C Alex Mack – $70,588
LT Trent Williams – $88,235
DE Arik Armstead – $44,118
DE Samson Ebukam – $29,412
NT D.J. Jones – $44,118
NT Zach Kerr – $5,147
WLB Marcell Harris – $5,882
CB Josh Norman – $70,588
FS Jimmie Ward – $88,235
Of course, Ward is expected to miss 1-2 weeks, despite coach Kyle Shanahan saying there’s an outside chance of him playing this week, either way, the 49ers will need to elevate a safety from the practice squad, either Tony Jefferson II, or Will Parks, which will cost them either $59,722 for Jefferson, or $55,000 for Parks, or $114,722 if both are elevated, as the only healthy safeties on the roster right now are Talanoa Hufanga, and Tavon Wilson.
The 49ers also made some roster moves over the past couple days, most notably trading for Houston Texans defensive end Charles Omenihu, adding Tyrell Adams, Chritsian Elliss, Austin Watkins Jr., & the aforementioned Will Parks to the teams practice squad, along with releasing Adams, & Joey Slye from the 53-man roster.
The 49ers also opened the practice window for Jeff Wilson Jr., George Kittle, & Robbie Gould, meaning all 3 could theoretically be back for this weeks game against the Arizona Cardinals, which would be a big boost for them.
This also means that the 49ers will have to make at least 2 roster moves if they are to activate all 3, with the most likely candidates to be waived being Trenton Cannon, and Dre Kirkpatrick.
Now, yes Ward is injured, but with him, as I said, only expected to be out 1-2 weeks, it makes no sense to put him on IR, when he’d have to miss at least 3 games, and Maurice Hurst Jr., who is injured, can’t be put back on IR, or else he’ll be gone for the season, which is something the 49ers can’t afford, if they hope to make a run for the playoffs, now that Javon Kinlaw is gone for the season.
So, if the 49ers were to release both Cannon, & Kirkpatrick, that would free up $460,000 for Cannon, & $472,222 for Kirkpatrick, a total of $932,222, which would, therotecially, give the 49ers $4,804,161, but if we subtract what will be needed to elevate Jefferson and/or Parks, that leaves the team at either $4,744,439 if just Jefferson is elevated, $4,749,161 if just Parks is elevated, or $4,689,439 is both Jefferson & Parks are elevated, which would mean Ward would be inactive, making the needed money to payback the 13 players go from $949,265 to $919,853.
Luckily the 49ers didn’t make a rash move at the trade deadline, despite some fans wanting them to bring in someone who is in their 30s, and injury prone, something that these same fans have had issues with, older players, & injury prone players, due to all the injuries the 49ers have had over the last 5 or so years.
Now, had the 49ers did make a move, they would have had to restructure someone, with only 4 players having high enough salaries to make this work, now let me explain, the whole thing about how the Rams, Chiefs, and other teams being able to manipulate the cap, yes they did, and have, but the reason is because they have/had players with high enough base salaries to convert into prorated bonuses to create cap room.
I respect DeForest Buckner, & Jimmie Ward, I hated the Buckner trade, but the fact is, the 49ers couldn’t and can’t create room out of thin air, unless they trade away their good players, which would only make the team worse off.
The issue, as stated above, is the Chiefs, Rams, etc… had guys with high enough salaries, money yet to be paid to them, that could be converted into bonuses, allowing for them to go out, and get players, also teams like the Buccaneers have used voidable years, which is how they brought back all 22 starters, but that will end up hurting them eventually, as that money they spent, basically borrowing from the future, they’ll lose it in 2022.
Now, for the 49ers, those 4 players are, Jimmy Garoppolo, Laken Tomlinson, Arik Armstead, & Dee Ford.
Now, had the 49ers redid Garoppolo’s deal, they could have cleared as much as $10,233,333 by converting the remainder of his $24.1 million base salary($13,388,889) into a signing bonus, spread it out over 5-years, but the 49ers expected savings of $24.845 million in 2022 for releasing Jimmy would go down to $14,611,667, which is a $10,233,333 loss.
Now, they could have just redid hid deal, by converting that $13,388,889 into a signing bonus over 2-years, saving the team $6,395,833, which would then make their savings in 2022 go from the $24.845 million to $18,449,167, not bad, but being as the team is set to be as much as $8.274 million over the cap, as you’ll see below, that would leave the team with just around $10.175 million in cap room for 2022, not enough to bring back many, if anyone.
Next we have Laken Tomlinson, who has a $4.5 million base salary, and had they done a redo or extension before the season began, they could have saved $2.808 million, but with him being owed $2.5 million, his savings, maximum, would be $1.56 million, but the 49ers would also lose $1.56 million in 2022, as Tomlinson is set to count $1,005,530 in dead money from his 2020 restructure.
Now with Arik Armstead, the team could have saved $4.528 million before the season began, as he has a $6.65 million base salary, with $3,694,444 still owed to him, so redoing him now would save the team $2,515,556, but would add $628,889 to his 2022-2024 cap numbers, plus $628,889 to his 2025 dead money hit of $1.5 million, which is from his option bonus.
Lastly is Dee Ford, which wasn’t likely to happen, as the team already redid his deal in March, when they saved over $9 million for 2021, and over $10 million for 2022, but if they were to go to him to redo it, they would end up saving $1,114,815, due to him being owed $2,222,222 of his $4 million base salary.
So, in total, they could have saved $15,423,704 maximum, or $11,586,204 by not adding void years to Garoppolo’s deal.
Of course, the 49ers would have lost either $12,979,360 if they added void years to Garoppolo’s deal, or $9,142,130 if they did these without adding void years to Garoppolo’s deal.
Now, let’s take a look at 2022, where the 49ers now have 32 players signed after the trade for Omenihu, are set to be $5,060,738 over the salary cap when you factor in the top 51 rule, that’s of course if the cap is indeed $208.2 million, which is the current agreed upon ceiling for 2022.
Now, 3 players are set to see their base salary escalate in 2022, thanks to the PPE(Proven Performance Escalator), those being wide receiver Deebo Samuel, weakside linebacker Dre Greenlaw, & punter Mitch Wishnowsky.
As of now, Greenlaw, & Wishnowsky are guaranteed to see their base salaries escalate, while if Samuel can keep his playing time at or above 60%, he will also see his base salary escalate up to the original round tender, which for 2022 is projected to be $2.396 million, but due to Samuel having a $50,000 workout bonus, his new base salary would be $2.346 million.
If all 3 players do indeed see their base salaries escalate, then that would be a lose of $3,213,360 in salary cap room, putting the 49ers $8,274,098 over the 2022 cap, again if it is the ceiling amount of $208.2 million.
Of course, by not doing these moves, it helps the 49ers salary cap for 2022, but they may have to redo 1 of Tomlinson or Armstead, if, any other in season moves are need to be made.
But had they made a move, the teams 2022 cap would be hurting even more than it is right now.
Now, the 49ers, as of now, should get some credits, $932,000 for base salary guarantees from Nate Sudfeld($252,000), Austin Watkins Jr.($85,000), MyCole Pruitt($500,000), & Elijah Sullivan($95,000), as Sudfeld is on the 49ers practice squad, as if Watkins, while Pruitt is signed to the Titans 53-man roster, and Sullivan is on the Chiefs practice squad.
The 49ers would also get back $815,257 in per game roster bonus credits for Raheem Mostert($109,375), & Jason Verrett($705,882), as both suffered season ending injuries week 1, so those amounts that count against the cap will be credited back to the 49ers in 2022.
So, that would give the 49ers $1,747,257 in potential credits, which would leave the team $6,526,841 over the 2022 cap.
Now, below are the 32 players signed for 2022, and their current cap numbers.
QB Jimmy Garoppolo(2022) – $26,950,000
QB Trey Lance(2024) – $7,751,195
RB Trey Sermon(2024) – $1,107,485
RB Elijah Mitchell(2024) – $870,893
FB Kyle Juszyzck(2025) – $2,958,750
WR Brandon Aiyuk(2023) – $3,417,641
WR Deebo Samuel(2022) – $3,300,519 ($3,300,519 with base salary escalated)
WR Jalen Hurd(2022) – $1,361,717
TE George Kittle(2025) – $16,011,765
TE Charlie Woerner(2023) – $940,258
C Alex Mack(2023) – $6,725,000
RG Aaron Banks(2024) – $1,607,638
LT Trent Williams(2026) – $14,075,882
LT Jaylon Moore(2024) – $905,759
RT Mike McGlinchey(2022) – $10,808,000
RT Justin Skule(2022) – $1,009,887
DE Nick Bosa(2022) – $10,805,564
DE Arik Armstead(2024) – $20,000,000
DE Dee Ford(2022) – $11,909,997
DE Samson Ebukam(2022) – $8,250,000
DE Charles Omenihu(2022) – $965,000
DT Javon Kinlaw(2023) – $4,224,191
WLB Dre Greenlaw(2022) – $2,726,429 ($2,475,429 with base salary escalated)
MLB Fred Warner(2026) – $8,164,000
CB Emmanuel Moseley(2022) – $6,673,176
CB Ambry Thomas(2024) – $1,087,693
CB Deommodore Lenoir(2024) – $896,217
FS Jimmie Ward(2022) – $12,965,000
SS Talanoa Hufanga(2024) – $885,038
PK Robbie Gould(2022) – $5,509,313
P Mitch Wishnowsky(2022) – $2,587,018 ($2,587,018 with base salary escalated)
LS Taybor Pepper(2022) – $1,120,000
Now, the 49ers will most definitely be moving on from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in 2022, which would save the team, after factoring in the top 51 rule, $24.845 million, which would give the team $18,318,159 under the 2022 cap, with not many must sign free agents to be, with the current pending free agents listed below.
UFA:
RB Raheem Mostert
RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
RB Trenton Cannon
WR Mohamed Sanu Sr.
WR Trent Sherfield
WR Travis Benjamin
WR Richie James Jr.
TE Ross Dwelley
C Jake Brendel
LG Laken Tomlinson
RG Tom Compton
DE Jordan Willis
DE Arden Key
DT Maurice Hurst Jr.
NT D.J. Jones
NT Zach Kerr
WLB Marcell Harris
CB Jason Verrett
CB K’Waun Williams
CB Josh Norman
CB Dontae Johnson
CB Dre Kirkpatrick
FS Tavon Wilson
FS Tarvarius Moore
SS Jaquiski Tartt
RFA:
RG Daniel Brunskill
DT Kentavius Street
SLB Azeez Al-Shaair
ERFA:
RB JaMycal Hasty
WR Jauan Jennings
DT Kevin Givens
SLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
As always let’s begin with the teams RFAs, if the team wanted to tender any of the 3, it would be the lowest tender of $2.396 million, but only Street would bring compensation, so the most likely outcome would be for the 49ers to re-sign all 3 of these players(Brunskill, Street, & Al-Shaair) to 1-year deals, worth less than the $2.396 million tender, like they did this offseason with Jeff Wilson Jr., Ross Dwelley, & Marcell Harris.
Something in the $1.5 million range seems fair for all 3, as they are 3 players that the 49ers could, & in my opinion, should consider keeping around to develop, as all 3 have proven to be very good players for the 49ers this season.
Now, when it comes to the teams ERFAs, this is simple, they can’t negotiate with any other team if tendered, and it’s highly unlikely they won’t tender any of the 4.
Hasty, Givens, & Flannigan-Fowles would cost just $895,000 each, while Jennings would cost just $825,000, all non-guaranteed.
So, if the team were to sign/tender these 7 players to the above numbers, that would add up to $8.01 million, but it would only cost them $3.075 million in offseason cap room, due to 7 players costing at least $705,000, the rookie minimum, would now be replaced on the top 51 by these 7 players.
With that $3.075 million used up, it leaves the team with $15,243,159 in cap room, so now let’s look at the teams UFAs.
This season has been up, and down, but a good number of players have shined, with a few pending free agents being among them, namely nose tackle D.J. Jones, & cornerback K’Waun Williams.
I would re-sign both to multi-year deals, I would give Jones a 5-year deal, worth $5 million a year, while giving Williams a 3-year deal, worth $5 million a year, both should get low 2022 cap numbers.
As for the teams other pending UFAs, the ones who most likely would be either brought back or considered to be brough back are, running back Jeff Wilson Jr, wide receivers Mohamed Sanu Sr., & Trent Sherfield, tight end Ross Dwelley, center Jake Brendel, defensive ends Arden Key, & Jordan Willis, defensive tackle Maurice Hurst Jr., weakside linebacker Marcell Harris, cornerback Josh Norman, and free safety Tarvarius Moore.
Now, most of the above names would be either at the league minimum or near the league minimum, nothing more than around $2 million to $2.5 million a year for those who end up having an overall good season thanks to a good 2nd half of the season.
I left out the following players, running back Raheem Mostert, left guard Laken Tomlinson, cornerback Jason Verrett, and strong safety Jaquiski Tartt, and I’ll explain below why for each player.
For Mostert, the fact that in 2020 Mostert asked to be paid like Tevin Coleman was, which was around $5 million, so with Mostert coming off a serious injury, plus the fact that he’ll likely want what the Colts gave Nyheim Hines($6.2 million a year), and being in a rotation, I just don’t see the 49ers spending that kind of money on a back, not after the debacle that was the Jerick McKinnon signing.
Another reason why Mostert may not be back is due to the 49ers drafting 2 running backs in the 2021 draft, with Trey Sermon, who has looked good in the little time he’s gotten, and Elijah Mitchell, who’s looked like a complete steal in the 6th-round, plus the team has to like JaMycal Hasty, and probably figure Jeff Wilson Jr. would be cheaper to bring back.
Next is Tomlinson, now I’d love for the 49ers to extend him, he’s set to count $1,005,530 in dead money for 2022 due to his 2020 restructure, but, his current contracts voids after the 2021 season, where he was making on average $5.5 million a year, so I don’t know if the 49ers will want to pay Tomlinson, who will be 30 in 2022, another $5.5 million a year, despite the fact that he’s really helped stabilize the left guard spot.
Another reason the 49ers may not bring back Tomlinson is the fact that over the past 2 drafts, they’ve added 3 potential interior offensive lineman, in 2020 it was Colton McKivitz, who while is on the practice squad, I expect to be back on the roster in 2022, and in 2021, they drafted Aaron Banks, & Jaylon Moore, plus they do have Daniel Brunskill, so 1 of these players could end up being the teams new left guard.
With Verrett, he’s coming off yet another serious injury, he signed a 1-year, $5.5 million deal this past offseason with the 49ers, whether he was offered a multi-year deal or not, the 49ers have to be glad they didn’t give him one, as he’ll 31 next year, he’s played 40 games out of a possible 129 games over what will be 8 seasons, missing a total of 64 games due to injuries, so, it’s unlikely he’s going to get that big contract he had hoped to get after betting on himself with the 1-year prove it deal he signed.
I can see the 49ers bringing back Verrett, but only if it’s a 1-year deal, worth the league minimum, if not, I don’t know where Verrett’s career heads.
Finally, we have Tartt, who has also had his fair share of injuries in the past, and has now landed on injured reserve, and while I’ve been a huge fan of Tartt, I think it’s time for the team to move on after 2021, and hand the reigns over to rookie 5th-rounder out of USC Talanoa Hufanga, who got his first career start in the 49ers win at the Bears.
Now, the 49ers have 4 players who become extension eligible after 2021, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, defensive end Nick Bosa, weakside linebacker Dre Greenlaw, & punter Mitch Wishnowsky, and I believe they’ll try to extend all 4 next offseason, as you don’t want to go into 2022 with Samuel, Greenlaw, & Wishnowsky on the last year of their deals, and Bosa looking to have to play on his 5th-year option in 2023.
If the 49ers do with Bosa, what they did with Fred Warner, by taking Bosa’s $4,305,225 training camp roster bonus, turn it into part of a $30 million signing bonus, use $1,694,775 in cap room, they’ll be able to extend Bosa without using up much cap room, just the $1,694,775 I mentioned, locking him up for 5 more years, through 2027, giving him $30 million a year, with $100 million in guaranteed money, with around $80 million of it likely fully guaranteed.
As for Deebo Samuel, & Dre Greenlaw, the team may have to use cap room to get deals done, but that shouldn’t be hard, as the 2022 & 2023 cap numbers would be small, similar to how George Kittle, Fred Warner, Trent Williams, and other players signed had their first 2 years cap numbers on the smaller side.
As for the money, I’d guess, if Samuel keeps it up, he’s looking in the $16 million to $18 million a year range, and for a team that has lacked a receiver to get 1000 yards, which Samuel looks like he’ll achieve, they need to spend to keep Deebo in the bay area, as he’s proven to be 1. A fan favorite, and 2. One of the most dynamic players in all of the NFL, a must re-sign.
With Greenlaw, I’d say his market should be in the $10 million to $12 million a year range, as a future linebacking corps of Fred Warner, & Dre Greenlaw will be very scary for offensives to defend.
As for Wishnowsky, don’t expect much, likely a 4-year deal, with minimum base salaries, maybe a $500,000 signing bonus, very easy, and simple to get, who I believe is on the best punters in the NFL.
Of course, there are other ways for the 49ers to create cap room in 2022.
They could restructure George Kittle’s deal, which would save the team $8.332 million, or Arik Armstead’s deal, which would save the team $10.424 million, both would require the 49ers adding 1 voidable year to get these maximum savings.
Also, the 49ers have a few players with high base salaries, that, depending on their play, could either be extended, or released, notably Samson Ebukam, & Emmanuel Moseley.
If they extended them, they could save, based on the new deals being 4-year extensions to maximize savings, $3.892 million from a Ebukam extension, and $2.692 million from a Moseley extension.
If the team decided to part ways, they’d be able to save $5.795 million from releasing Ebukam, and $2.237 million from releasing Moseley, who I need to note has a $4.4 million base salary will become guaranteed on April 1, 2022, but right now it is guaranteed for injury/skill, meaning if cut while hurt he gets that $4.4 million, similar to how Jimmy Garoppolo has a $7.5 million injury guarantee for both 2021 & 2022.
They can also save as much as $7,818,400 by extending Mike McGlinchey, who had his 5th-year option picked up, which fully guarantees him $10.808 million for 2022, but this depends on him having a tremendous season, where he improves his pass protection, while still being one of the best run blocking right tackles in the NFL.
Lastly there is Dee Ford, who has an injury guaranteed $4.6 million roster bonus that is due between the 2nd and 5th day of the league waiver period, which begins the day after the Super Bowl, so, the team will need to decide quickly on Ford’s future.
If the team pays Ford’s $4.6 million, he’s likely in the bay area for 1 more year, but they could pay him the bonus, and cut him post June 1, which would save the team around $1.695 million after factoring in the top 51 rule.
Now, if the team declines to pay him the roster bonus, the team would save $1,385,001 after factoring in the top 51 rule.
Now, if Ford can continue to play well, get more play time, help the team, I think he sticks with the 49ers in 2022.
All in all, the 49ers should, and will be fine in 2022, as their salary cap is very healthy, especially after not making a rash decision to trade for someone, which would have required mortgaging the future and/or taking up future cap room to do so, which would have been a bad idea, as the salary cap won’t increase, significantly anyway, until 2023 or 2024 at the earliest, with 2024 most likely the year the cap explodes into the $256 million to $260 million range, with increases up to $20 million a year.
Also, the 49ers, if they continue to develop, draft well, sign good free agents who fit the team, and don’t go crazy, should end up being contenders for years to come, despite what some fans want you to believe.
Offseason wise, I believe Trey Lance will end up being the teams starting quarterback, with the team bringing in a capable veteran to back him up.
At running back, I see a backfield of Elijah Mitchell, Trey Sermon, JaMycal Hasty, and maybe Jeff Wilson Jr., plus fullback Kyle Juszczck.
When it comes to the teams wide receivers & tight ends, I also believe we need to upgrade, I have faith in both Deebo Samuel, & Brandon Aiyuk, as well as the league best all around tight end George Kittle, but we need a true #3 WR threat, and a true threat as a backup TE, but I do like Jauan Jennings, & Charlie Woerner as backups at WR & TE respectively.
On the offensive line, Alex Mack, Daniel Brunskill, Trent Williams, & Mike McGlinchey should all be back, hopefully Aaron Banks can win the right guard spot, which I’m confident he will, along with the team drafting someone to groom at center behind Mack, while Jaylon Moore could be the teams new left guard is Laken Tomlinson isn’t back.
Also, I hope the team keeps Colton McKivitz, as he’s highly versatile, as he can play pretty much every OL spot.
On defense, the 49ers will continue to have their strength be their defensive line, with Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, a healthy Javon Kinlaw(yes I believe in Kinlaw, despite the fact I hated the Buckner trade), and hopefully a re-signed D.J. Jones, along with the team having a young EDGE in Omenihu, bring back players like Key, Willis, Street, Givens, & Hurst to compete, and add a young EDGE.
Also, hopefully Ebukam can continue his good play from this past weekend, as it would be nice to have found a solid EDGE, and hopefully Dee keeps playing well.
At linebacker I like the starters, Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, & Azeez Al-Shaair, but I hope they upgrade the backups, while I like Marcell Harris, & Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, we need better backups who can help on defense.
As for the cornerback spot, I do agree with those disgruntled, we need better players on the backend of the defense, but I don’t agree with going out, and giving someone like Stephon Gilmore, a soon to be 32-year old, $15 million a year, and to those who say we paid Richard Sherman $13 million a year, that’s incorrect, his base value was $9.05 million, max value with incentives was $13.05 million, only 1 year did Sherman see any of his incentives, 2019, when he earned $3 million of the $4 million.
However, I like the young guys we have in Deommodore Lenoir, & Ambry Thomas, as well as the idea of extending K’Waun Williams.
If Josh Norman comes cheap, I’d bring him back, hopefully Emmanuel Moseley can play well, or he may be on the outside looking in, but we really do need a #1 CB, it’s too bad Verrett can’t stay healthy.
As for the safety spot, Jimmie Ward will be the free safety, unless some unforeseen circumstance happens, with Talanoa Hufanga at strong safety, and hopefully they upgrade the backups, but I do hope they get Tarvarius Moore to sign a 1-year deal, the Fourth Year Qualifying Contract, where he his base salary would be $2.285 million, plus a $152,500 signing bonus, but only $1,187,500 would count against the cap, with the other $1.25 million of his base salary not counting, just the $1.035 million, which would be his minimum salary, giving the 49ers cap relief, something that they did with K’Waun Williams this year.
As for special teams, don’t expect Robbie Gould to be gone, as his $4 million base salary is fully guaranteed, so unless he’s traded, or he retires, he’s the 49ers kicker in 2022, while I expect Wishnowsky, & Taybor Pepper to remain the teams punter, & long snapper, respectively.
And, 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.
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