The 2021 NFL season opened with a 49ers win over the Lions, but they lost a key starter to an apparent torn ACL, cornerback Jason Verrett, and I want to take a look at the 49ers 2021 salary cap situation as it stands right now, along with addressing what the 49ers could do at cornerback.
As of now, the 49ers are $7,940,607 under their adjusted cap of $196,838,022, thanks to Jimmie Ward’s restructure which freed up $5.86 million in salary cap room.
Now, with the loss of Verrett, the 49ers will have to obviously sign someone to take his place, plus they will have to sign someone to take the place of wide receiver Jalen Hurd, who was put on injured reserve, and must miss a minimum of 3 games.
So, the minimum the 49ers will have to spend is $1,246,667, which is 17 weeks worth of 2 players making the league minimum of $660,000, but due to week 1 already being in the books for the 49ers, it’s $623,333 each.
So, right there that would put the 49ers at $6,693,940 in cap room, but they’ll need $1,279,412 to potentially payback 15 players per game roster bonuses that don’t currently count against the 2021 cap, with them being listed below.
QB Jimmy Garoppolo – $517,647
RB Raheem Mostert – $132,353
FB Kyle Juszczyk – $23,529
TE George Kittle – $52,941
TE Ross Dwelley – $11,765
C Alex Mack – $70,588
LG Laken Tomlinson – $23,529
LT Trent Williams – $132,353
DE Arik Armstead – $44,118
DE Samson Ebukam – $29,412
NT D.J. Jones – $44,118
NT Zach Kerr – $20,588
WLB Marcell Harris – $5,882
CB Josh Norman – $82,353
FS Jimmie Ward – $88,235
So, if for some reason all of these are achieved, that would leave the 49ers with $5,414,528 in salary cap room.
As for the teams practice squad, when it comes to the normal weekly salary, the maximum of $3.168 million, which currently counts against the cap, is basically offset whenever the team releases and signs someone to the practice squad.
Now, the only thing that the 49ers really need to account for is whenever a player is elevated from the practice squad to the active roster, that player gets paid a 1-week game check equivalent to their minimum base salary, so for Dontae Johnson, instead of being paid $14,000 this week, he’ll get paid $59,722, which is 1 weeks worth of a $1.075 million salary.
Now, each player can only be elevated 2 times a season, so the maximum the 49ers practice squad should cost is around $4,554,889, which would mean each player plays the maximum of 2 games allowed.
Now, the issues when it comes to the practice squad, is, 1. Whenever a player is released after 4PM eastern time on Tuesday of each week, that player will be paid his weekly practice squad salary, and 2. The COVID-19 replacements, as there is no maximum number of games a player on the practice squad can be elevated to the active roster between the 2 games maximum, & however many games a player is elevated as a COVID-19 replacement.
Now, there is chatter among 49ers fans about bringing in New England Patriots’ cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who is currently on reserve/PUP, meaning he has to miss the first 6 weeks of the season, and has a $7 million base salary, and a $500,000 per game roster bonus, of which, $323,529 counts against the cap, which will count even if he’s traded, just like Jason Verrett’s $764,706 of his $1 million per game roster bonus will still count against the 49ers cap, but they will receive a credit of $705,882 in 2022.
Now, if Gilmore is traded after week 6, his base salary would be $4,666,667, plus his $323,529 roster bonus would count, as I said above, now if he’s traded after week 8, as the trade deadline is November 2nd, his base salary would be $3,888,889, plus the $323,529, so his cap number would either be $4,990,196 if traded after week 6, or $4,212,418 if traded after week 8.
So, the 49ers would have to create more cap room in order to take on Gilmore’s contract, plus it’s unknown what kind of compensation it would take to get him, or what kind of new contract he’d want.
I honestly doubt the 49ers make a play for Gilmore, and likely shouldn’t, as it will hamper the teams salary cap, not just for 2021, but beyond, as the team, again would need to create cap room, with the only other options being restructuring Arik Armstead, & Laken Tomlinson’s contracts, which would have saved the team a combined $7.336 million, but now, due to week 1 being in the books for the 49ers, it would be $6,928,444, which is a loss of $407,556.
As for 2022 & beyond, it would add $1,069,111 to Arik Armstead’s remaining cap numbers from 2022-2024, plus $1,069,111 to his 2025 dead money hit of $1.5 million, while $2.652 million would be added to Laken Tomlinson’s 2022 dead money hit, which is set to be $1,005,530, so that would be a loss of $3,721,111 in 2022 cap room.
Also, in 2022, the 49ers currently have 31 players signed, accounting for $194,405,842, plus $4,686,072 in dead money, for a total commitment of $199,091,914, and if the 2022 cap hits the ceiling of $208.2 million, that would put the 49ers, after the top 51 rule, at $4,991,914 over the cap.
Also, as I’ve mentioned before, 3 players can or will have their 2022 base salaries escalate, those being, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, weakside linebacker Dre Greenlaw, & punter Mitch Wishnowsky.
If all 3 see their base salaries escalate, that’s $3,513,360 added to the teams salary cap commitment, which would put the 49ers $8,505,274 over the 2022 cap.
Now, below are the 31 players signed for 2022, and their current cap numbers.
QB Jimmy Garoppolo(2022) – $27,000,000
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
WR Jalen Hurd(2022) – $1,361,717
TE George Kittle(2025) – $16,100,000
TE Charlie Woerner(2023) – $940,258
C Alex Mack(2023) – $6,725,000
RG Aaron Banks(2024) – $1,607,638
LT Trent Williams(2026) – $14,120,000
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
DT Javon Kinlaw(2023) – $4,224,191
WLB Dre Greenlaw(2022) – $2,726,429
MLB Fred Warner(2026) – $8,164,000
CB Emmanuel Moseley(2022) – $6,732,000
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
LS Taybor Pepper(2022) – $1,120,000
So, when the 49ers release or trade Jimmy Garoppolo, they’d save $24.895 million, but they’d be $16,389,726 under the cap, with the following projected free agents.
So, if the 49ers decided to trade for Gilmore, and restructure Armstead, & Tomlinson, that $16,389,726 would go down, as of now, by $$3,721,111, to $12,668,615, which wouldn’t be enough to really retain their own, plus give Gilmore what he likely would want, and I doubt he’ll go for a Richard Sherman type deal, which was a base of $9.05 million a year, and up to $13.05 million a year, due to the $4 million a year in incentives.
So, as I said, I don’t see the 49ers going after Gilmore, or any high priced player, if anything, they’ll may try to get Sherman to come back, as Kyle Shanahan said he is an option.
Now, let’s look at the 49ers pending free agents, listed below.
UFA:
RB Raheem Mostert
RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
WR Trent Sherfield
WR Mohamed Sanu Sr.
WR Richie James Jr.
TE Ross Dwelley
LG Laken Tomlinson
RT Tom Compton
DE Arden Key
DE Jordan Willis
DT Maurice Hurst Jr.
NT D.J. Jones
NT Zach Kerr
WLB Marcell Harris
CB Jason Verrett
CB K’Waun Williams
CB Josh Norman
FS Tarvarius Moore
FS Tavon Wilson
SS Jaquiski Tartt
RFA:
C Daniel Brunskill
DT Kentavius Street
SLB Azeez Al-Shaair
CB Davontae Harris
ERFA:
RB JaMycal Hasty
WR Jauan Jennings
DT Kevin Givens
SLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
When it comes to the teams RFAs, I’d expect them to the same thing they did this offseason with the likes of Jeff Wilson Jr., Ross Dwelley, & Marcell Harris, and that’s sign them to a 1-year deals, worth less than the original round tender, which is projected to be $2.396 million for 2022.
For Brunskill, Street, & Al-Shaair, they’d likely re-sign them to 1-year deals, likely worth around $1.5 million.
As for the ERFAs, Hasty, Givens, & Flannigan-Fowles tenders would only be $895,000, while Jennings would be just $825,000.
For all 7 players listed above, their combined salaries would be $8.01 million, but after the top 51 rule, they would count $3.075 million, which would put the 49ers at $13,314,726 under the 2022 cap.
Below are the cap numbers for the 37 players that would be signed now.
QB Trey Lance(2024) – $7,751,195
RB Trey Sermon(2024) – $1,107,485
RB Elijah Mitchell(2024) – $870,893
RB JaMycal Hasty(2022) – $895,000
FB Kyle Juszyzck(2025) – $2,958,750
WR Brandon Aiyuk(2023) – $3,417,641
WR Deebo Samuel(2022) – $3,300,519
WR Jalen Hurd(2022) – $1,361,717
WR Jauan Jennings(2022) – $825,000
TE George Kittle(2025) – $16,100,000
TE Charlie Woerner(2023) – $940,258
C Alex Mack(2023) – $6,725,000
C Daniel Brunskill(2022) – $1,500,000
RG Aaron Banks(2024) – $1,607,638
LT Trent Williams(2026) – $14,120,000
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
DT Javon Kinlaw(2023) – $4,224,191
DT Kevin Givens(2022) – $895,000
DT Kentavius Street(2022) – $1,500,000
WLB Dre Greenlaw(2022) – $2,726,429
MLB Fred Warner(2026) – $8,164,000
SLB Azeez Al-Shaair(2022) – $1,500,000
SLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles(2022) – $895,000
CB Emmanuel Moseley(2022) – $6,732,000
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
LS Taybor Pepper(2022) – $1,120,000
As for the teams UFAs, I think the team will look to bring back a few of the following guys, depending on how they play, plus health wise, money wise, etc…, running backs Raheem Mostert & Jeff Wilson Jr., wide receivers Trent Sherfield, & Mohamed Sanu Sr., tight end Ross Dwelley, left guard Laken Tomlinson, defensive ends Arden Key, & Jordan Willis, nose tackles D.J. Jones, & Zach Kerr, weakside linebacker Marcell Harris, cornerbacks Jason Verrett, K’Waun Williams, & Josh Norman, free safety Tarvarius Moore, and strong safety Jaquiski Tartt.
Now, obviously Jason Verrett isn’t going to get a multi-year deal now that he’s, as of the writing of this article, is feared to have torn his ACL, and at 30-years old, it’s going to be hard to come back after so many devastating injuries, so if anything, he’ll have to sign a veteran minimum deal.
For a guy like Tarvarius Moore, I envision him signing a 1-year deal, that’s known as the Four-Year Qualifying Contract, where he would get a $2.285 million base salary, a $152,500 signing bonus, but only count $1,187,500 against the cap, which is a $1.25 million savings.
Now, the Four-Year Qualifying Contract has been used by the 49ers in both 2020, & 2021, they used it on Ronald Blair III last year, and K’Waun Williams this year.
Now, as far as the guys who would most likely be back, again, if they stay healthy, and have really good seasons, are probably Trent Sherfield, Ross Dwelley, Arden Key, Jordan Willis, Maurice Hurst Jr., D.J. Jones, Zach Kerr, & K’Waun Williams.
When it comes to contract terms, the only 3 players I can see getting a good or big sized deal, for their positions, are, Sherfield, Jones, & Williams, with Sherfield being pegged at around $5 million a year, Jones at $5 million a year also, and $5 million as well for Williams.
As for Ross Dwelley, Arden Key, Jordan Willis, Maurice Hurst Jr., & Zach Kerr, if they get brought back, their deals will likely be on the lower end, maybe even 1-year prove it deals, somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 million to $3 million a year.
As for the likes of Raheem Mostert & Jeff Wilson Jr., the injury concerns with Mostert, plus the fact he’ll likely want a deal somewhere near what the Indianapolis Colts just gave Nyheim Hines, which was a 3-year extension, worth $18.6 million, a $6.2 million a year average, with $12 million in guaranteed money, I think it’s likely Mostert is gone after 2021.
As for Wilson, this will depend on if/when he comes back, and how he plays, if he plays well, he’s likely the guy they try to bring back, but with the emergence of Elijah Mitchell, & JaMycal Hasty, and the expected contribution from Trey Sermon, I can see the 49ers rolling with those 3 in 2022.
With Mohamed Sanu Sr., I think it comes down to how he plays, he had a nice game Sunday, and if he can keep it up, he could be brought back as the teams 4th wide receiver, especially with it not looking so great for former 2019 3rd-rounder Jalen Hurd, who went on injured reserve this past weekend.
For Laken Tomlinson, I’d like to think the 49ers would want to bring him back, after all, he’s been a great get for a 5th-rounder, I believe, but the 49ers have drafted several offensive lineman who could vie for that left guard spot, Aaron Banks, Jaylon Moore, and Colton McKivitz, so the team could opt to go with the youth, while saving some money, as Laken would likely get around what he got before, $5.5 million a year.
For a guy like Marcell Harris, he’ll need to prove his worth, as not just a special teamer, but now as a linebacker, as he converted from safety to linebacker, if he does so, he could be back, but I can see them opting to draft some better backups to Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, & Azeez Al-Shaair.
Next is Josh Norman, this is way too early to project, as we need to see how he plays, especially now that Verrett is likely done for the season, but if he can show any of what he was 5 years ago, the 49ers should consider bringing him back.
Finally, we have Jaquiski Tartt, and while Tartt is a dependable player, when on the field, the team drafted USC strong safety Talanoa Hufanga, who is viewed as the teams future at strong safety.
Of course, I haven’t even mentioned the likely extensions for wide receiver Deebo Samuel, defensive end Nick Bosa, & weakside linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
I’d expect the 49ers to try to extend all 3, and as I said before, I view Deebo, & Greenlaw in that $11.5 million to $12 million a year range, and Bosa in the $30 million a year range, which would eclipse what the Pittsburgh Steelers just gave to T.J. Watt, which was $28 million a year, with $80 million guaranteed.
Of course, I’ve said the way to get a Bosa deal done, is to turn his training camp roster bonus into part of a $30 million signing bonus, by taking a little over $1.694 million in 2022 salary cap room, similar to how they extended Fred Warner, by turning his base salary into a signing bonus proration, without using cap room.
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, we also have to talk about Dee Ford, who has looked good, and looks to be back, he had a sack on Sunday, but in 2022, he is due a $4.6 million roster bonus, which is injury guaranteed, and the 49ers have to decide not long after the Super Bowl, as the roster bonus is due between the 2nd and 5th day of the waiver period, which begins right after the Super Bowl.
So, this one is hard to project, he’ll be on the 53, he’ll play, if he stays healthy, and he gives the 49ers production like he did in 2019, when he had 6.5 sacks, played over 100 snaps in the playoffs, and also had a sack in the playoffs, so if he gives the 49ers numbers like this, he should be brought back.
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.
About Author
