With just 21 days until the NFL’s new league year officially begins on March 16 at 4PM eastern time, it’s time for my 2022 offseason plan.
As of now the 49ers have 43 players signed for 2022, with a cap commitment of $208,528,720, along with $5,167,725 in dead money, for a total cap commitment of $213,696,445, putting them $3,320,061 over the 2022 salary cap, but that doesn’t include the other 8 players that will take up the final spots on the top 51 rule, so they’d be at least $8,960,061 over the cap, but that assumes all 8 are making $705,000, but that’s highly unlikely, so the 49ers will need to some cap maneuvering to get under the cap, but first they have to tender their ERFAs, and decide what to do with their RFAs.
They have 5 ERFAs, running back JaMycal Hasty, wide receiver Jauan Jennings, left guard Colton McKivitz, defensive tackle Kevin Givens, & strongside linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, and I expect the 49ers to tender all 5, with Jennings being at $825,000, while Hasty, McKivitz, Givens, & Flannigan-Fowles would be $895,000 each, for a total of $4.405 million.
When factoring in the 5 ERFAs, the 49ers would be $9,840,061 over the 2022 salary cap.
Next up are the team’s RFAs, this is where I would re-sign right guard Daniel Brunskill, & defensive tackle Kentavius Street to 1-year deals, worth $1.265 million each, while re-signing strongside linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair to a 3-year deal, worth $3.5 million a year, with a $1,298,333 2022 cap number, leaving the 49ers $11,553,394 over the cap.
The 49ers need to be cap compliant before the new league year opens in 3 weeks, so they will need to do some restructuring, unless they do get a bunch of adjustments/credits like in 2021 when they had over $11 million, so they have a few options, those being tight end George Kittle($8.332 million maximum, $7,811,250 minimum), left tackle Trent Williams($4.904 million minimum/maximum), defensive tackle Arik Armstead($10.424 million maximum, $9,772,500 minimum), & free safety Jimmie Ward($6.224 million maximum, $5.835 million minimum).
So, I’m going with Arik Armstead, as it’ll clear $10.424 million, but they still need to clear a little more, that’s where I’d go to defensive end Samson Ebukam, get him to take a pay cut, from $5.9 million, down to $1.035 million, saving $4.865 million, which would put the 49ers $3,735,606 under the 2022 salary cap.
Now, it’s time to move on from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, despite what some reporters are saying, in my opinion Trey Lance is ready to take over at quarterback, so trading or releasing Garoppolo will save the team $25.55 million, putting the 49ers $29,285,606 under the 2022 salary cap to begin the offseason.
The 49ers would have 50 players signed, with those players below, with their 2022 cap numbers.
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
FB Josh Hokit(2022) – $705,000
WR Brandon Aiyuk(2023) – $3,417,641
WR Deebo Samuel(2022) – $4,890,519
WR Jauan Jennings(2022) – $825,000
WR Connor Wedington(2022) – $705,000
WR Austin Mack(2022) – $825,000
WR KeeSean Johnson(2022) – $895,000
TE George Kittle(2025) – $16,011,765
TE Charlie Woerner(2023) – $940,258
TE Jordan Matthews(2022) – $895,000
TE Tanner Hudson(2022) – $895,000
C Alex Mack(2023) – $6,725,000
LG Colton McKivitz(2022) – $895,000
RG Aaron Banks(2024) – $1,607,638
RG Daniel Brunskill(2022) – $1,265,000
LT Trent Williams(2026) – $14,031,765
LT Jaylon Moore(2024) – $905,759
RT Mike McGlinchey(2022) – $10,880,000
RT Justin Skule(2022) – $1,009,887
RT Alfredo Gutierrez(2022) – $705,000
DE Nick Bosa(2022) – $10,805,564
DE Dee Ford(2022) – $11,909,997
DE Samson Ebukam(2022) – $3,385,000
DE Charles Omenihu(2022) – $2,540,000
DE Alex Barrett(2022) – $825,000
DT Arik Armstead(2024) – $9,576,000
DT Javon Kinlaw(2023) – $4,224,191
DT Kentavius Street(2022) – $1,265,000
DT Kevin Givens(2022) – $895,000
NT Chris Slayton(2022) – $705,000
WLB Dre Greenlaw(2022) – $2,620,429
WLB Curtis Robinson(2022) – $825,000
MLB Fred Warner(2026) – $8,134,588
SLB Azeez Al-Shaair(2024) – $1,298,333
SLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles(2022) – $895,000
CB Emmanuel Moseley(2022) – $6,584,941
CB Ambry Thomas(2024) – $1,087,693
CB Deommodore Lenoir(2024) – $896,217
CB Ka’dar Hollman(2022) – $895,000
FS Jimmie Ward(2022) – $12,935,588
FS Tarvarius Moore(2022) – $965,000
SS Talanoa Hufanga(2024) – $885,038
PK Robbie Gould(2022) – $5,509,313
P Mitch Wishnowsky(2022) – $1,156,018
LS Taybor Pepper(2022) – $1,120,000
Next up is the team’s UFAs, and what outside free agents they will bring in.
I won’t go into super detail, as I go into this on my 2022 offseason plan page, which you can find by clicking here.
I would re-sign the following UFAs.
RB Trenton Cannon – 1-year deal, worth $1.035 million, but only $895,000 counts against the cap.
WR Trent Sherfield – 1-year deal, worth $1.035 million, but only $895,000 counts against the cap.
C Jake Brendel – 1-year deal, worth $1.035 million, but only $895,000 counts against the cap.
LG Laken Tomlinson – 5-year deal, worth $50 million, averaging $10 million a year, with $21.345 million in guaranteed money, and a $2.965 million 2022 cap number.
RT Tom Compton – 1-year deal, worth $1,272,500, with a $152,500 signing bonus, and a $1,047,500 2022 cap number.
DE Arden Key – 4-year deal, worth $16 million, averaging $4 million a year, with $6.5 million in guaranteed money, and a $1.285 million 2022 cap number.
DE Jordan Willis – 2-year deal, worth $4 million, averaging $2 million a year, with $1.535 million in guaranteed money, and a $1,443,824 2022 cap number.
NT D.J. Jones – 5-year deal, worth $30 million, averaging $6 million a year, with $10 million in guaranteed money, and a $2.5 million 2022 cap number.
CB K’Waun Williams – 3-year deal, worth $10.5 million, averaging $3.5 million a year, with $6.71 million in guaranteed money, and a $2,455,882 2022 cap number.
SS Jaquiski Tartt – 1-year deal, worth $2,522,500, with a $152,500 signing bonus, and a $1,272,500 2022 cap number.
These 10 re-signings would cost $15,654,706 against the cap, but with the top 51 rule, the 49ers would be $20,575,900 under the 2022 salary cap.
Next are my free agent signings from other teams.
QB Tyrod Taylor – 1-year deal, worth up to $10 million with incentives, and a $5 million 2022 cap number.
RB/WR Cordarrelle Patterson – 3-year deal, worth $18 million, averaging $6 million a year, with $9.21 million in guaranteed money, and a $4,485,294 2022 cap number.
CB Levi Wallace – 5-year deal, worth $40 million, averaging $8 million a year, with $25 million in guaranteed money, and a $2.685 million 2022 cap number.
These 3 signings would cost $12,170,294 against the cap, but with the top 51 rule, the 49ers would be $11,020,606 under the 2022 salary cap.
Next up are extensions.
WR Deebo Samuel – 5-year deal, worth $102.5 million, averaging $20.5 million a year, with $58.615 million in guaranteed money, and a $4,919,519 2022 cap number.
DE Nick Bosa – 5-year deal, worth $152.5 million, averaging $30.5 million a year, with $100 million in guaranteed money, and a $12,500,339 2022 cap number.
WLB Dre Greenlaw – 4-year deal, worth $14 million, averaging $3.5 million a year, with $5 million in guaranteed money, and a $1,245,429 2022 cap number.
With these 3 extensions, the 49ers would be $10,621,831 under the 2022 salary cap.
So, with all of these roster moves, the 49ers would have 63 players signed for 2022.
QB Trey Lance(2024) – $7,751,195
QB Tyrod Taylor(2022) – $5,000,000
RB Trey Sermon(2024) – $1,107,485
RB Elijah Mitchell(2024) – $870,893
RB Cordarrelle Patterson(2023) – $4,485,294
RB JaMycal Hasty(2022) – $895,000
RB Trenton Cannon(2022) – $895,000
FB Kyle Juszyzck(2025) – $2,958,750
FB Josh Hokit(2022) – $705,000
WR Brandon Aiyuk(2023) – $3,417,641
WR Deebo Samuel(2027) – $4,919,519
WR Jauan Jennings(2022) – $825,000
WR Trent Sherfield(2022) – $895,000
WR Connor Wedington(2022) – $705,000
WR Austin Mack(2022) – $825,000
WR KeeSean Johnson(2022)- $895,000
TE George Kittle(2025) – $16,011,765
TE Charlie Woerner(2023) – $940,258
TE Jordan Matthews(2022) – $895,000
TE Tanner Hudson(2022) – $895,000
C Alex Mack(2023) – $6,725,000
C Jake Brendel(2022) – $895,000
LG Laken Tomlinson(2026) – $2,965,000
LG Colton McKivitz(2022) – $895,000
RG Aaron Banks(2024) – $1,607,638
RG Daniel Brunskill(2022) – $1,265,000
LT Trent Williams(2026) – $9,127,765
LT Jaylon Moore(2024) – $905,759
RT Mike McGlinchey(2022) – $10,880,000
RT Tom Compton(2022) – $1,047,500
RT Justin Skule(2022) – $1,009,887
RT Alfredo Gutierrez(2022) – $705,000
DE Nick Bosa(2027) – $12,500,339
DE Dee Ford(2022) – $11,909,997
DE Samson Ebukam(2022) – $3,385,000
DE Charles Omenihu(2022) – $2,396,000
DE Alex Barrett(2022) – $825,000
DE Arden Key(2022) – $1,285,000
DE Jordan Willis(2023) – $1,443,824
DT Arik Armstead(2024) – $9,576,000
DT Javon Kinlaw(2023) – $4,224,191
DT Kentavius Street(2022) – $1,265,000
DT Kevin Givens(2022) – $895,000
NT D.J. Jones(2026) – $2,500,000
NT Chris Slayton(2022) – $705,000
WLB Dre Greenlaw(2026) – $1,245,429
WLB Curtis Robinson(2022) – $825,000
MLB Fred Warner(2026) – $8,134,588
SLB Azeez Al-Shaair(2024) – $1,298,333
SLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles(2022) – $895,000
CB Levi Wallace(2026) – $2,635,000
CB Emmanuel Moseley(2022) – $6,584,941
CB K’Waun Williams(2024) – $2,455,882
CB Ambry Thomas(2024) – $1,087,693
CB Deommodore Lenoir(2024) – $896,217
CB Ka’dar Hollman(2022) – $895,000
FS Jimmie Ward(2022) – $12,935,588
FS Tarvarius Moore(2022) – $965,000
SS Jaquiski Tartt(2022) – $1,272,500
SS Talanoa Hufanga(2024) – $885,038
PK Robbie Gould(2022) – $5,509,313
P Mitch Wishnowsky(2022) – $1,156,018
LS Taybor Pepper(2022) – $1,120,000
Next up is the 49ers current 2022 draft class, which will cost them $7,694,844 against the cap, but as of now only the first 4 picks would count, a total $4,169,844, which would leave the team with $10,031,987 in 2022 salary cap room.
Now, I have in my offseason plan 46 players making the 53-man roster, or on a reserve/injured list, counting $177,001,944 against the cap, with a projected dead money amount of $16,222,609, including Dee Ford being released Post June 1, and their 2022 current draft picks counting $7,694,844, for a total cap commitment of $200,919,397, putting the team $9,456,987 under the 2022 salary cap, but the team’s practice squad would count at least $2,905,200, leaving the 49ers with $6,947,787 in cap room to begin the 2022 season, which is enough to get through the season.
Of the 46 players I have on my projected 53-man roster + reserve/injured lists, 29 of them are currently signed for 2022, with the rest being 14 free agents re-signed, whether they’re UFAs, RFAs, or ERFAs, and 3 outside free agents.
Below is my projected 53-man roster under this offseason plan.
OFFENSE:
QB(2): 5 Trey Lance(2024), & — Tyrod Taylor(2022)
RB(4): 25 Elijah Mitchell(2024), 28 Trey Sermon(2024), 23 JaMycal Hasty(2022), & Draft Pick(2025) or UDFA(2024)
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), 38 Deommodore Lenoir(2024), & Draft Pick(2025)
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)
As for 2022 & beyond, the 49ers, under this plan would have 37 players signed for 2023, including the 9 draft picks, for 2023, with $23,051,712 in salary cap room on a projected $225 million cap, & with 51 players signed, it would be $12,551,712 under the 2022 salary cap, while they’ll have $32,806,341 in cap room in 2024 with 32 players signed, on a projected $256 million salary cap, but with 51 players signed, they’d be $17,701,341 under the 2024 salary cap.
After 2024, the 49ers salary cap room would have well over $82 million in 2025, & over $139 million in 2026, meaning the 49ers can extend Brandon Aiyuk, with the 49ers doing the same thing they did with Fred Warner, reducing his base salary down to the minimum, which will be $1.01 million in 2023, a difference of $1,308,821, and if I’m the 49ers, I use just enough to give Aiyuk a $15 million signing bonus, with low 2023 & 2024 cap numbers, which would be his first 2-years of his deal, which is what the 49ers did with the likes of tight end George Kittle, left tackle Trent Williams, defensive tackle Arik Armstead, & middle linebacker Fred Warner, and will do so with wide receiver Deebo Samuel, & defensive end Nick Bosa.
So, for those worried about the 49ers future, when it comes to retaining Brandon Aiyuk, while still having the key core players signed long term, don’t worry, the 49ers will be just fine, trust Paraag Marathe, the best capologist in the NFL.
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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