Yesterday I did my first mock offseason plan, so today I want to look at what a potential extension for free safety Jimmie Ward could look like, and what kind of cap ramifications it might have, when it comes to both the 49ers current 2023 salary cap outlook, and my own mock offseason, also check out the mock offseason page, here.
Right now, Ward is signed through just 2022, with a $12,935,588 cap hit, and his deal voids after this season, which will result in a dead money hit of $6.395 million, which is a lot compared to what the 49ers will have for Laken Tomlinson on this year’s cap, $1,204,059, so there might be some motivation for the 49ers to get a deal done with Ward.
If the 49ers are to extend Ward, he’d likely be in the $11 million to $12 million range, as of right now, the highest paid safeties are, according to OverTheCap.com, as follows.
Jamal Adams(Seahawks) – $17.5 million a year
Harrison Smith(Vikings) – $16 million a year
Justin Simmons(Broncos) – $15.25 million a year
Budda Baker(Cardinals) – $14.75 million a year
Eddie Jackson(Bears) – $14.6 million a year
Kevin Byard(Titans) – $14.1 million a year
Landon Collins(Commanders) – $14 million a year
John Johnson III(Browns) – $11.25 million a year
Logan Ryan(Giants) – $10 million a year
Jordan Poyer(Bills) – $9.725 million a year
Micah Hyde(Bills) – $9.625 million a year
Jimmie Ward(49ers) – $9.5 million a year
Now, I think we can all agree that Ward has outplayed his contract, and that he’s probably better than a good portion of the players above, with Harrison Smith, & Landon Collins as possible cap casualties, so as I said, somewhere in the $11 million to $12 million a year range seems fair, there’s no way the 49ers will pay him what Adams got, or what Mathieu will get.
As of now, Ward currently has 3 void years on his deal, due to last year’s restructure, so any deal would likely be a 3-year extension, through 2025, as he is in his 30s, and the team likely won’t want to tie up a lot of money into a 30+ year old safety, long term.
So, if Ward is to sign an extension, I think it comes in around $11.25 million a year, they would take his current base salary, which is $8.9 million for 2022, reduce it to the league minimum of $1.12 million, creating a $7.78 million signing bonus, which would prorate at $1.954 million from 2022-2025, which would give Ward a new cap number of $7,109,588, a savings of $5.826 million.
As for structure, currently Ward has prorated amount of $3.465 million for 2022, $3.465 million for 2023, $1.465 million for 2024, & $1.465 million for 2025, so by adding an additional $1.954 million, his new prorates would be, $5.419 million in 2022, $5.419 million in 2023, $3.419 million in 2024, & $3.419 million in 2025.
For 2023, as I mentioned earlier, he has a $6.395 million dead money hit if the deal voids, but by doing an extension before it voids, the prorations would stay the way they are on his contract, as the $6.345 million is the sum of his 2023($3.465 million), 2024($1.465 million), & 2025($1.465 million) prorations.
As for what his 2023 cap number could look like, well, they would likely have at the minimum base salary, which would be $1.165 million, also he’d likely have $500,000 per game roster bonuses, and $100,000 workout bonuses each year, as he does right now, so his 2023 cap number would likely come in at $7.184 million, which is only $789,000 more than what he’d cost as a player signed for 2023, compared to what he’d cost in dead money, and not under contract.
So, Ward would get the new $7.78 million signing bonus, a $1.12 million 2022 base salary, a $1.165 million 2023 base salary, a total of $10.065 million, plus yearly $500,000 per game roster bonuses, a $2 million protected option bonus in 2023, & yearly $100,000 workout bonuses, from 2023-2025, which would be a total of $1.8 million.
As for potential 2024 & 2025 cap numbers, since the deal would be averaging $11.5 million, a total of $33.5 million, & we already have $11.865 million of that used up, leaving $22.635 million.
If they decided to go with the option bonus route, this could be what Ward’s new deal could look like, from 2022-2025.
2022- $7,109,588 ($1.12 million base salary, $3.465 million old proration, $1.954 million new proration, $500,000 per game roster bonus, & $100,000 workout bonus)
2023- $7,850,666 ($1.165 million base salary, $3.465 million old proration, $666,666 option bonus proration, $500,000 per game roster bonus, & $100,000 workout bonus)
2024- $9,658,666 ($5 million base salary, $1.465 million old proration, $1.954 million new proration, $666,666 option bonus proration, $500,000 per game roster bonus, & $100,000 workout bonus)
2025- $19,570,668 ($14.885 million base salary, $1.465 million old proration, $1.954 million new proration, $666,668 option bonus proration, $500,000 per game roster bonus, & $100,000 workout bonus)
His guaranteed money would be $17.065 million, with $12.065 million of it being fully guaranteed, between his $7.78 million signing bonus, his 2022 base salary, his 2023 base salary, a $2 million protected option bonus in 2023, and $5 million of his 2024 base salary guaranteed for injury, and it becomes fully guaranteed on April 1, 2024.
As for 2022, in my mock offseason, the 49ers salary cap room would go up to $20,861,986, which could allow the 49ers to go out, and sign a few more outside free agents, maybe a speedy wide receiver/returner like Jakeem Grant, a tight end like Mo Alie-Cox, basically some mid-tier free agents, that way they have some cap room to carryover into 2023.
As for the 49ers current 2023 salary cap outlook, they have 17 players signed for 2023, with a cap commitment of 122,334,200, with a projected $11,304,999 in dead money, but that includes Ward’s $6.395 million, for a total cap commitment of $133,639,199, add in the extra $789,000, and that’s a total cap commitment of $134,428,199, which would give the team $90,571,801 in cap room, before the top 51 rule, $65,821,801 after the top 51 rule.
Back to 2023, under my mock offseason plan, the 49ers would have $22,262,712 in salary cap room for 2023, that’s with 38 players under contract, including their 9 current 2023 draft picks, with all the players, & picks below, with their 2023 cap numbers.
- QB Trey Lance(2024) – $9,301,434
- RB Elijah Mitchell(2024) – $985,893
- RB Trey Sermon(2024) – $1,328,982
- RB/WR Cordarrelle Patterson(2024) – $4,380,000
- FB Kyle Juszczyk(2025) – $6,588,750
- WR Deebo Samuel(2027) – $7,250,000
- WR Brandon Aiyuk(2023) – $3,987,248
- TE George Kittle(2025) – $16,300,000
- TE Charlie Woerner(2023) – $1,055,258
- C Alex Mack(2023) – $5,075,000
- LG Laken Tomlinson(2026) – $4,345,000
- RG Aaron Banks(2024) – $1,911,166
- LT Trent Williams(2026) – $26,270,000
- LT Jaylon Moore(2024) – $1,020,759
- DE Nick Bosa(2027) – $16,350,000
- DE Arden Key(2025) – $2,100,000
- DE Jordan Willis(2023) – $2,515,000
- DT Arik Armstead(2024) – $24,346,000
- DT Javon Kinlaw(2023) – $4,928,223
- NT D.J. Jones(2026) – $5,965,000
- WLB Dre Greenlaw(2026) – $2,185,000
- MLB Fred Warner(2026) – $18,525,000
- SLB Azeez Al-Shaair(2024) – $3,183,333
- CB Levi Wallace(2026) – $4,100,000
- CB Ambry Thomas(2024) – $1,305,232
- CB K’Waun Williams(2024) – $3,880,000
- CB Deommodore Lenoir(2024) – $1,011,217
- FS Jimmie Ward(2025) – $7,850,666
- SS Talanoa Hufanga(2024) – $1,000,038
- 2022 2nd-Round Pick(2025) – $1,420,343
- 2022 3rd-Round Pick(2025) – $1,210,621
- 2022 Compensatory 3rd-Round Pick(2025) – $1,193,595
- 2022 4th-Round Pick(2025) – $1,067,792
- 2022 5th-Round Pick(2025) – $953,386
- 2022 6th-Round Pick via Denver Broncos(2025) – $926,024
- 2022 1st Compensatory 7th-Round Pick(2025) – $892,665
- 2022 2nd Compensatory 7th-Round Pick(2025) – $892,665
- 2022 3rd Compensatory 7th-Round Pick(2025) – $892,665
Now, under my mock offseason plan, the following players would be free agents, either UFAs, RFAs, or ERFAs, of course not all would make the team.
UFA:
QB Tyrod Taylor
RB Trenton Cannon
WR Trent Sherfield
TE Tanner Hudson
TE Jordan Matthews
RG Daniel Brunskill
RT Mike McGlinchey
RT Tom Compton
RT Justin Skule
DE Samson Ebukam
DE Charles Omenihu
DT Kentavius Street
CB Emmanuel Moseley
CB Ka’dar Hollman
FS Tarvarius Moore
SS Jaquiski Tartt
PK Robbie Gould
P Mitch Wishnowsky
LS Taybor Pepper
RFA:
RB JaMycal Hasty
WR KeeSean Johnson
LG Colton McKivitz
DT Kevin Givens
SLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
ERFA:
FB Josh Hokit
WR Austin Mack
WR Jauan Jennings
WR Connor Wedington
RT Alfredo Gutierrez
DE Alex Barrett
NT Chris Slayton
WLB Curtis Robinson
Now, when it comes to the top 51 rule, the 49ers would have $11,846,046 in salary cap room, that’s assuming that the remaining 13 players are making $750,000, but that’s unlikely.
There’s a couple players that we can pencil in as being here in 2023, wide receiver Jauan Jennings, left guard Colton McKivitz, & defensive tackle Kevin Givens, Jennings is a ERFA, so he’d get $940,000, while McKivitz, & Givens would be RFAs, so let’s say they sign 1-year deals, worth $1.41 million, that leaves the team with $17,836,046 in cap room with 41 players signed, but with the top 51 rule, they’d be at $10,336,046 under the 2023 salary cap, which is projected to be $225 million, but could be as high as $230 million to $238 million, which would give the team $22,836,046 with a $230 million cap, or $30,836,046 on a $238 million cap, but the top 51 cap room would be $15,336,046 on a $230 million cap, or $23,336,046 on a $238 million cap.
So, when you look at the 49ers 2023 outlook, this isn’t bad at all, I’d expect that Alex Mack would retire, as there’s even rumors that he’s at least considering retiring this offseason, but if it’s in 2023, the team would save $3.85 million, before the top 51 rule, $3.1 million after the top 51 rule.
Another hot topic now, and especially in 2023 will be Brandon Aiyuk, as far as extending him, which is very doable, both with what 2023 currently looks like, & what my 2023 looks like.
When extending Aiyuk, you would take his $2,318,821 base salary, lower it down to $1.01 million, use the difference, $1,308,821, plus enough to make a $3 million prorated amount for a $15 million signing bonus, he’d also get a protected option bonus in 2024, just like fullback Kyle Juszczyk, tight end George Kittle, defensive tackle Arik Armstead, & middle linebacker Fred Warner all got, along with wide receiver Deebo Samuel, & defensive end Nick Bosa should get when they sign their extensions this offseason.
So, after this extension, Aiyuk’s cap number goes from $3,987,248 to $5,678,427, just $1,691,179 in cap room used, which would leave the 49ers with $16,144,867 in cap room, before the top 51 rule, $8,644,867 after the top 51 rule, as for if the cap is $230 million, or even $238 million, it’d be $21,144,867, before top 51, $13,644,867 after top 51 on a $230 million cap, and $29,144,867, before the top 51 rule, $21,644,867 after the top 51 rule on a $238 million cap.
Now, if Alex Mack does retire in 2023, as I said earlier, they’d save $3.1 million after the top 51 rule, which would give the 49ers the following in cap room, depending on what the cap would be set at.
$19,994,867 ($11,744,867 top 51 rule) with 40 players signed, on a $225 million cap.
$24,994,867 ($16,744,867 top 51 rule) with 40 players signed, on a $230 million cap.
$32,994,867 ($24,744,867 top 51 rule) with 40 players signed, on a $238 million cap.
Let’s look at what my projected 53-man roster would be for 2022 from my article yesterday. [Updated Mock Offseason]
OFFENSE:
QB(2): 5 Trey Lance(2024), & — Tyrod Taylor(2022)
RB(4): 25 Elijah Mitchell(2024), 31 Raheem Mostert(2022), 28 Trey Sermon(2024), & 23 JaMycal Hasty(2022)
FB(1): 44 Kyle Juszyzck(2025)
WR(6): 19 Deebo Samuel(2027), 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2023), 15 Jauan Jennings(2022), — Cordarrelle Patterson(2024), 81 Trent Sherfield(2022), & Draft Pick(2025)
TE(3): 85 George Kittle(2025), 89 Charlie Woerner(2023), & Draft Pick(2025)
C(2): 50 Alex Mack(2023), & Draft Pick(2025)
LG(2): 75 Laken Tomlinson(2026), & 68 Colton McKivitz(2022)
RG(2): 65 Aaron Banks(2024), & 60 Daniel Brunskill(2022)
LT(1): 71 Trent Williams(2026)
RT(2): 76 Jaylon Moore(2024), & 66 Tom Compton(2022) [69 Mike McGlinchey(2022) starts on PUP]
DEFENSE:
DE(6): 97 Nick Bosa(2027), 56 Samson Ebukam(2022), 98 Arden Key(2025), 92 Charles Omenihu(2022), 94 Jordan Willis(2023), & Draft Pick(2025)
DT(3): 91 Arik Armstead(2024), 99 Javon Kinlaw(2023), & 90 Kevin Givens(2022)
NT(1): 93 D.J. Jones(2026)
WLB(2): 57 Dre Greenlaw(2025), & Draft Pick(2025) or UDFA(2024)
MLB(1): 54 Fred Warner(2026)
SLB(2): 51 Azeez Al-Shaair(2024), & Draft Pick(2025) or UDFA(2024)
CB(6): — Levi Wallace(2026), 4 Emmanuel Moseley(2022), 20 Ambry Thomas(2024), 24 K’Waun Williams(2024), 2 Jason Verrett(2022), & 38 Deommodore Lenoir(2024)
FS(2): 1 Jimmie Ward(2022), & 33 Tarvarius Moore(2022)
SS(2): 3 Jaquiski Tartt(2022), & 29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
PK(1): 9 Robbie Gould(2022)
P(1): 18 Mitch Wishnowsky(2022) or Draft Pick(2025) or UDFA(2024), or Veteran(1-year deal)
LS(1): 46 Taybor Pepper(2022)
I have 48 players making it, that’s with free agent signings, of the 46, 10 are UFA re-signings, 2 RFA re-signings, 4 ERFA re-signings, & 3 outside UFA signings, while currently 29 of those players are under contract for 2022 as of now.
That leaves 7 roster spots open, meaning that all 9 picks, plus whatever they get for Jimmy Garoppolo, won’t make the roster, or it’s more likely that the 49ers trade up, and down in the 2022 draft, getting the best players available, so the 2022 & 2023 salary cap room would fluctuate based on the picks, their cap number, dead money, & who makes it.
When it comes to the team’s UFAs that I mentioned earlier, the only players who could be high priorities would be, right tackle Mike McGlinchey, defensive ends Samson Ebukam, & Charles Omenihu, cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, & strong safety Jaquiski Tartt, while the team will have to decide on their special teamers, as place kicker Robbie Gould would likely retire, while there’s no guarantee that the 49ers keep punter Mitch Wishnowsky, and/or long snapper Taybor Pepper.
So, the 49ers will be just fine cap wise, trust Paraag Marathe, the best capologist in the NFL, along with GM John Lynch, Assistant GM Adam Peters, HC Kyle Shanahan, CEO Jed York, and the rest of the organization.
And, with all of this said, I thank everyone for reading this 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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