Now, the rumor is the 49ers are in, or want, to be in on the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, who is set to make $35 million in 2023, $37 million in 2024, & $32 million in 2025, so the 49ers would need to do a lot of cap maneuvering, but is it realistic, no, it’s not, let me explain.
Right now, before factoring in the contracts for Charvarius Ward, & Oren Burks, the 49ers have $9,067,615 in salary cap room for 2022, thanks in large part to George Kittle, Dee Ford, & Arik Armstead restructuring their contracts, clearing $23.716 million in cap space, as they were $9,688,385 over their 2022 adjusted cap at the start of today, before they restructured Kittle, & Armstead’s deals.
Next up is what the Texans want for Watson, reportedly 3 1st-round picks, and 2-3 players, likely stars, or very good players.
Well, the 49ers don’t have a 1st-round pick until 2024, plus thanks to the restructures, George Kittle, & Arik Armstead can’t be traded before June 1 without the 49ers losing salary cap room, as they’d lose $15,335,235 for Kittle, & $19.954 million for Armstead..
But, what about the 49ers’ other big names, like Trent Williams or Fred Warner, well, the 49ers would lose $10,048,235 for Williams, & $8,134,588 for Warner.
So, what about 2021 1st-round pick, quarterback Trey Lance? Well, if the 49ers trade him before June 1, they’d lose $8,871,673 in salary cap room.
Ok, so as you can see, the 49ers would lose a ton of salary cap room, if they traded any combination of those players, and they’re not going to trade Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, or Nick Bosa.
So, what about if the 49ers sent drafr picks, well, as I said, they don’t own a 1st-round pick until 2024, and the Texans want 3, plus more, the 49ers own the following picks in the next 2 drafts.
2022:
2nd-Round Pick (61st-overall)
3rd-Round Pick (93rd-overall)
3rd-Round Pick (105th-overall, Compensatory pick for losing Mike McDaniel)
4th-Round Pick (134th-overall)
5th-Round Pick (173rd-overall)
6th-Round Pick (191st-overall, Via Denver Broncos)
6th-Round Pick (220th-overall, Compensatory pick for losing Solomon Thomas)
6th-Round Pick (221st-overall, Compensatory pick for losing Kerry Hyder Jr.)
7th-Round Pick (262nd-overall, Compensatory pick for losing C.J. Beathard)
2023:
2nd-Round Pick
3rd-Round Pick
3rd-Round Pick (Compensatory pick for losing Martin Mayhew)
3rd-Round Pick (Compensatory pick for losing Mike McDaniel)
4th-Round Pick
5th-Round Pick
7th-Round Pick
7th-Round Pick (Via Denver Broncos)
And, as of now, they would receive a compensatory 5th-round pick for losing D.J. Jones, this according to OverTheCap.com.
Will the Texans want a bunch of day 2 picks for Watson, a legitimate superstar, when the 49ers aren’t or can’t trade their own superstars? The answer is easy, NO, NO way the Texans accept a bunch of day 2 picks, and players that are average to above average, despite the fact that Watson has a no trade clause.
There’s also the salary cap issue with Watson’s cap number, $35 million for 2022, but how could the 49ers get that far under, before knowing Charvarius Ward and Oren Burks’ cap numbers.
If the 49ers were to restructure the contracts of Trent Williams, Fred Warner, & extend Jimmie Ward, they’d save a combined total of $12,351,200, which would give the 49ers $21,418,815 in salary cap room, again without knowing Charvarius Ward, or Oren Burks’ 2022 cap numbers, which let’s say are $5 million, & $1.5 million respectively, which puts the 49ers cap room down to $16,448,815 in salary cap room.
Next, is Jimmy Garoppolo, & his $26.95 million cap number for 2022, so once they trade him, they’ll end up having $41,173,815 in salary cap room, now add in Deshaun Watson to the 49ers salary cap, that’s $35 million, leaving the 49ers with just $6,998,815 in cap room, and they haven’t even re-signed any of their unrestricted free agents, or added anyone else, plus whatever draft picks they end up with.
So, in conclusion, it doesn’t make sense, nor does it really work if the 49ers trade for Watson, and honestly, I’d rather have Trey Lance, our picks, our stars, and a quarterback on a rookie deal.
Anyway, I thank you for reading, if you have questions, comment below, or follow me on Twitter, @49erscap.
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