So, we’re 12 days into the 2022 offseason, and the 49ers have made a good amount of moves, so let’s recap, and give a breakdown of these moves.
Restructures:
TE George Kittle – Kittle restructured his deal to create $8.332 million in salary cap room, which helped the 49ers get under the salary cap to begin the new league year.
DE Dee Ford – Ford restructured his deal, creating $4.96 million in cap room, helping the 49ers get under the cap.
DT Arik Armstead – Armstead restructured his deal, creating $10.424 million in cap room, helping the team get under the cap.
Re-Signings:
QB Nate Sudfeld – 1-year, $2 million, fully guaranteed – The 49ers retained the practice squad quarterback on a 1-year, fully guaranteed $2 million deal, as the reports were several teams were looking at Sudfeld, even as a starter, whether or not that’s true, or not, we’ll never truly know, but this is a good re-signing, maybe not from a cap standpoint, as $2 million, fully guaranteed, is a lot, especially since the 49ers have yet to trade or release incumbent starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, which has to happen, because you can’t be paying a #3 QB $2 million, fully guaranteed, to sit on the bench.
RB Jeff Wilson Jr. – The 49ers re-signed Wilson to a reported 1-year, $1.085 million deal, and I like the re-signing, he did get $530,000 guaranteed, which is likely part of his base salary, as his minimum base salary is $1.035 million, so either he got that, plus a $50,000 week 1 53-man roster bonus, or he got a $1.085 million base salary, but Wilson should compete with 2021 2nd-round pick Trey Sermon for the RB2 duty, and they could very well end up splitting that duty.
RB JaMycal Hasty – The 49ers re-signed Hasty, an ERFA, to a 1-year deal, worth the minimum of $895,000, and he should, baring bad play, or the team drafts another back, be on the 53-man roster to begin the 2022 season.
C Jake Brendel – The 49ers re-signed Brendel to a 1-year deal, worth $1.035 million, with just $895,000 counting against the cap, but he’s not guaranteed a spot, he was impressive in preseason last year, but never really got many snaps or playing time, but he’s versatile, as he can play both guard spots, in addition to center, so if the 49ers don’t add an interior offensive lineman, either in free agency, or the draft, especially a center, then Brendel is likely the backup center this season.
LG Colton McKivitz – The 49ers brought McKivitz, an ERFA, back on a 1-year deal, worth $895,000, and he’s a guy I didn’t understand why the 49ers cut him in the first place, as he has so much versatility, he can play both guard spots, in addition to left tackle, which he showed he’s really good at in week 18, when he started in place of Trent Williams, so he’s a long term keeper in my opinion.
DE Jordan Willis – The 49ers brought Willis back on a 1-year deal, worth $1.11 million, but only $970,000 counts against the cap, and the hero of the divisional round win in Green Bay, should provide much needed depth on the defensive line, and he could be asked to replace Arden Key, who played both outside and inside at DT.
DT Kevin Givens – The 49ers brought Givens back on a 1-year, $895,000 deal, as he was an ERFA, and he did look really good last year, especially when Javon Kinlaw went on injured reserve, he played well at both the 3T, and NT, and with D.J. Jones now in Denver, Givens may be asked to do more, and get more playing time.
DT Maurice Hurst Jr. – The 49ers brought back Hurst on a 1-year deal, worth $1,187,500, but he’ll count just $1,047,500 against the 2022 cap, he got a $102,500 signing bonus, along with a $50,000 workout bonus, so at worst, the 49ers eat just $152,500, saving $895,000 if he doesn’t make the team, and he’s not a lock, but as of now, he would be on the team come September.
SLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles – The 49ers brought back Flannigan-Fowles, an ERFA, on a 1-year deal, worth $895,000, and he played well both defensively, and on special teams, as he is a core special teamer, and when on defense, he filled in for the likes of Dre Greenlaw & Azeez Al-Shaair, so, unless they draft or sign someone who’s a clear upgrade, or he looks bad, Flannigan-Fowles should be back in 2022.
CB Dontae Johnson – The 49ers re-signed Johnson to a 1-year deal, that I assume is for the league minimum of $1.12 million, with just $895,000 counting, and he really was good last year, both on special teams, but also on defense, when the 49ers needed him, he stepped up, played well, and became a key part of the 49ers’ depth, and with the Dennard signing, he may be battling with him for a roster spot, as he can play outside, & inside.
CB Darqueze Dennard – The 49ers re-signed Dennard to a 1-year deal, that I also assume to be for the league minimum of $1.12 million, but only $895,000 counts, and he ended the season on the teams’ practice squad, but he was elevated a number of times, both in the regular season, but also in the playoffs, where he played well on special teams, and on defense, especially in the slot, so he could end up battling with Johnson for a roster spot, as he can also play outside, as well as inside.
Tenders:
WR Jauan Jennings – The 49ers tendered Jennings, an ERFA, to a 1-year, $825,000 deal, so their #3 WR will be back, but, as of writing, he hasn’t officially signed the tender, so that could mean they’re working on a longer deal, and JJ really showed up in 2021, he was a 3rd down machine, and he really came into his own, a real keeper long term in my opinion.
RG Daniel Brunskill – The 49ers tendered the RFA, Brunskill, to a 1-year, $2.433 million deal, which is the right of first refusal tender, so if a team wants him, and the 49ers don’t match an offer sheet, then they won’t get anything back in return, which I think wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen, but Brunskill is a versatile offensive lineman, as he can play RG, C, & RT, so he’s a guy who will be on the 2022 53-man roster.
SLB Azeez Al-Shaair – The 49ers tendered Al-Shaair, an RFA, to a 1-year, $3.986 million deal, which is the 2nd-round tender, so if a team wants Al-Shaair that badly, they’ll have to hand over a 2nd-rounder, that’s if the 49ers don’t match the offer sheet, but with that being unlikely, Al-Shaair either signs his tender, or signs a multi-year deal, so he’s going to be back as the teams’ starting strongside linebacker.
Additions:
WR/KR/PR Ray-Ray McCloud – The 49ers added the speedy receiver/returner on a 2-year deal, worth up to $10.4 million, but the base value is just $4 million, meaning a $2 million a year deal, and this is a great signing, even if it was for $10.4 million over 2-years, as McCloud led the league in punt return yards, while also being in the top half in kick return yards, and he’s a nice slot WR, which, reportedly, he’ll play some with the 49ers, and he knows fellow receiver Deebo Samuel.
DE Kerry Hyder Jr. – Hyder was signed to a 1-year deal worth $1.5 million, with $750,000 fully guaranteed, is back with the 49ers, a year after signing with the Seattle Seahawks, and his best two seasons came in 2016, & 2020, both under 49ers defensive line coach Kris Kocurek, where he had 8 sacks, & 8.5 sacks, respectively, so this is a great signing, to get Hyder back, a year later, is a huge win for the 49ers.
NT Hassan Ridgeway – The 49ers signed Ridgeway to a 1-year deal, worth up to $2.5 million, with a base value of $1.8 million, $1 million being fully guaranteed, and he’s been an impressive player over his career, and with the loss of D.J. Jones, I expect Ridgeway, along with Javon Kinlaw, & Kevin Givens, to be tasked with helping replace Jones’ production.
MLB Oren Burks – The 49ers signed Burks away from the Green Bay Packers, on a 2-year deal, worth $5 million, and while I don’t have his exact guaranteed amount, this is a great signing, as he was one of, if not the best, special teamer on the Packers, he’s a guy that Packers fans didn’t want to lose, but luckily for the 49ers, unluckily fopr the Packers, due to their cap situation, he chose to come to the bay area, and play for the 49ers, where he should be a core special teamer, as well as a capable backup linebacker.
CB Charvarius Ward – The 49ers splash signing, they added the former Chiefs CB on a 3-year deal, worth up to $42 million, with a base value of $40.5 million, a great deal for both sides, as Ward gets rewarded for his ever improving play, and the 49ers get, what I think, will end up being the teams #1 CB, and another guy that the Chiefs fans didn’t want to lose, but like with the Packers, their salary cap situation wasn’t good enough for them to keep Ward.
SS George Odum – The 49ers added the safety/special teams ace on a 3-year deal, worth up to $10.95 million, with a base value of $1.9 million a year, so this is a great signing, he adds much needed depth at both safety spots, he is a special teams ace, and another player that the Colts fans didn’t want to lose, which says a lot, when fans aren’t pleased to see a player leaving, or lost, and this time, the cap situation, wasn’t an issue, as the Colts had led to the NFL in cap room available, up until they added Matt Ryan, but Odum should have a chance to start, or play some safety when the 49ers go with 3 safeties on the field.
As you can see, while the 49ers didn’t make a ton of splash signings, they really did add some nice pieces to their roster, along with keeping some of their key core guys, while keeping their salary cap situation, both now, and in the future, in great shape.
So, what’s next for the 49ers, well, the NFL draft is just over a month away, where they hold 9 picks, a 2nd-rounder(#61), 2 3rd-rounders(#93 & #105), a 4th-rounder(#134), a 5th-rounder(#172), 3 6th-rounders(#187, #220, & #221), and a 7th-rounder(#262), so the team will be looking to upgrade, or add depth at certain positions, as they could really use a 5th & 6th WR, a 3rd TE, an IOL prospect to groom behind center Alex Mack, a speedy EDGE rusher to go opposite Nick Bosa long term, potentially another linebacker, another CB, and a safety, either free safety, or strong safety.
We can’t talk offseason without the pending extensions for wide receiver Deebo Samuel, & defensive end Nick Bosa, which will cost a lot of money long term, but, in my opinion, both are well worth it, with Deebo likely coming in around $25 million a year, and Bosa around $32 million a year.
With the 49ers likely to trade of release Jimmy Garoppolo, which looks like what will happen, vs. keeping him, the 49ers would save $25.55 million, of which the 49ers could realistically carryover in the $10 million to $12 million range, maybe even as high as $15 million, depending on in season roster moves, as the 49ers got by with the $5.85 million the 49ers saved from restructuring Jimmie Ward’s contract last year, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they can get by, using just around $6 million to $8 million of Garoppolo’s $25.55 million that they’d save.
As for other ways of creating salary cap room, the 49ers could restructure left tackle Trent Williams($4.904 million saved), and/or middle linebacker Fred Warner($1,223,200 saved), or they could extend the likes of defensive end Samson Ebukam($3.892 million saved), cornerback Emmanuel Moseley($2.692 million saved), & free safety Jimmie Ward($6.224 million saved), so the 49ers have a good amount of ways to save cap room for 2022, which can be used either in season, or for a few smaller free agents, or to carryover into 2023.
And with that said, I thank you for reading, as always, leave a comment, or follow me on Twitter @49erscap.
About Author
