Recently the 49ers lost starting right tackle Mike McGlinchey to a torn quad, so let’s take a look at what options the 49ers have concerning McGlinchey in 2022, as they picked up his 5th-year option back in May.
Now, the option is worth $10.88 million, now under the previous CBA from 2011, when you picked up an option, it would be guaranteed for injury, and become fully guaranteed at the beginning of the NFL’s new league year, but under the most recent CBA from 2020, when you pick up a 1st-round picks option, it’s now fully guaranteed the moment you pick it up, so McGlinchey is guaranteed $10.88 million whether or not he plays in 2022.
Now, the 49ers have some options to save salary cap room, but their isn’t many, so let’s breakdown what the 49ers could do in 2022 with McGlinchey.
Option 1: Mike McGlinchey remains on the 49ers in 2022 at his current cap number.
In this scenario, the 49ers will be hoping McGlinchey heals up, and is ready to play for the 2022 season, when they’ll likely have a new starting quarterback in Trey Lance at the helm.
If this happens, then the 49ers likely have McGlinchey in their long term plans, despite the torn quad.
Option 2: Release Mike McGlinchey.
In this scenario, the 49ers would simply release McGlinchey, which would likely mean the injury is too serious for him to recover, similar to Weston Richburg’s injury from 2019, but he would still be paid the $10.88 million.
If this happens, the 49ers would likely look to 2021 5th-rounder Jaylon Moore, who started at right tackle in the 49ers win over the Rams this past Monday night, to be the teams new right tackle.
Option 3: Trade Mike McGlinchey.
This is probably the most least likely option to happen, as even if McGlinchey fully recovers, there may not be many teams willing to give up any draft picks for a player coming off a serious injury, while also having to pay him $10.88 million.
If this scenario happened, the 49ers would likely have to send a draft pick to the team trading for McGlinchey, while getting back a pick a round higher than the pick they sent, similar to the 2020 trade that saw the 49ers trade a 2021 6th-round pick to the Jets for Jordan Willis, & a 2022 6th-round pick, or the 2021 trade of Jonas Griffith & a 7th-round pick to the Broncos for a 2022 6th-rounder, & 2023 7th-rounder.
Option 4. Restructure Mike McGlinchey’s contract.
The 49ers could do a pseudo extension for McGlinchey, where they tack on 4 voidable years, similar to what several teams did this past offseason, most notably the Saints, as they were at one point $100 million over the 2021 cap, and the 49ers would lower his base salary from $10.88 million down to the league minimum of $1.035 million, creating a $9.845 million signing bonus, saving the team $7.876 million, but they would have a $5.907 million dead money hit in 2023, as the deal would void.
If this were to happen, it means the none of the first 3 options/scenarios either came to fruition, or weren’t on the table, meaning the 49ers, if they do need to create cap room in 2022, are in need of cap room, to potentially go out, and pick up cornerback, & edge rush help.
As of the writing of the article, the 49ers are $4,657,733 over the projected $208.2 million 2022 salary cap, and will likely end up being over the cap at the beginning of March by between $9,302,093, to $11,133,373, due to 4 49ers receiving base salary increases, due to the proven performance escalator.
Those players are wide receiver Deebo Samuel, defensive end Charles Omenihu, weakside linebacker Dre Greenlaw, & punter Mitch Wishnowsky, the latter 3 already guaranteed to see their base salaries rise from $965,000 to, as of now, the projected original round tender of $2.396 million.
Now, the reason for the differences in how much the 49ers could potentially be over the cap before the new league year begins is due to what happens with Deebo Samuel, if he hits the 60% play time or higher, he’ll get the original round tender, which would be a $351,360 increase from his current base salary of $1,994,640, plus his workout bonus of $50,000, but if he makes the pro bowl, which at his pace, with 979 receiving yards, on 54 receptions, 5 receiving touchdowns, plus 2 more rushing touchdowns, he’ll see his base salary go up to the 2nd-round tender amount, which is projected to be $3.927 million, minus his $50,000 workout bonus, means his base salary would be $3.877 million, meaning an increase of $1,882,360.
So, that’s why there are two different potential amounts that the 49ers could be over the cap to begin March, but fans don’t need to worry, as the 49ers should get back around $2,172,257 in credits, $815,257 from per game roster bonuses from Raheem Mostert, & Jason Verrett, that count against the salary cap, but weren’t achieved, along with up-to $1.357 million in base salary guarantees from 5 players that were released, despite being guaranteed part or all of their base salary, those being Nate Sudfeld($252,000), Austin Watkins Jr.($85,000), MyCole Pruitt($500,000), Zach Kerr($425,000), & Elijah Sullivan($95,000).
Now, as long as Pruitt remains on the Titans 53-man roster, the 49ers will get that $500,000 back, as he’s already earned $472,222, and as long as Watkins remains on the 49ers practice squad, while Sullivan remains on the Chiefs practice squad, they’ll get back the $85,000, & 95,000.
As for Nate Sudfeld, since he’s not likely to be let go from the practice squad, the 49ers will get back that $252,000, as he’s earned $183,600 already this season.
The only player that the 49ers may not get the guarantee back from is Kerr, as he could file for termination pay, which allows a player to keep the money he was guaranteed, while also earning whatever amount he had yet to earn, so for Kerr, he already made $425,000 of the $850,000 base salary when he was cut, and since he’s on the Cardinals roster, he can make $425,000, but note, that players can only file for termination pay once in their career, it’s also unknown if Kerr has done it already, and this only applies to players who have 4 or more accrued years, and were cut in season, so Sudfeld & Pruitt can’t file for termination pay, as they were released at final cuts, while Watkins, & Sullivan are rookies, so they don’t qualify.
If the 49ers do get the credits worth $2,172,257, they would then be either $7,129,836 over the cap if Deebo Samuel doesn’t make the pro bowl, or $8,981,116 if Deebo does make the pro bowl.
The 49ers will also likely be moving on from current starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, which will save the team $24.845 million, which would give the 49ers either $17,715,164 in cap room if Deebo doesn’t make the pro bowl, or $15,883,884 in cap room if Deebo makes the pro bowl.
So, the 49ers may not have to restructure McGlinchey’s deal, as the 49ers don’t have many priority free agents that they need to re-sign, or deserve multi-year deals, with the only ones being left guard Laken Tomlinson, nose tackle D.J. Jones, & cornerback K’Waun Williams.
Of course, the 49ers could end up extending 4 of their 2019 draft picks, 1st-rounder Nick Bosa, 2nd-rounder Deebo Samuel, 4th-rounder Mitch Wishnowsky, & 5th-rounder Dre Greenlaw, as all 4 really do deserve to get multi-year extensions, and it’d be in the 49ers best interest to get these deals done this coming offseason, before they become free agents in 2023, when their value could, & likely would go up, if they were free agents, with the exception of Bosa, as he’ll have his 5th-year option picked up, which would have him signed through 2023.
Now, I won’t go into any details about what kind of contracts these 4 players can get, as I’ve done articles on Bosa, Samuel, & Greenlaw, plus you can check my 2022 mock offseason plan page, which I am updating regularly, which can be found here.
There is an option 5, but the 49ers don’t control it, that being is the quad injury to McGlinchey is career ending, then he would forfeit the $10.88 million that is guaranteed, as players who retire aren’t allowed to keep any salary that is guaranteed, while also having to payback any bonuses already paid to them that count against future caps, but McGlinchey doesn’t have any, so the 49ers would get back just the $10.88 million.
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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