An updated look at the 49ers 2022 salary cap situation now that we know their adjusted cap, & my 3rd mock offseason plan

With less than 2 weeks until the NFL’s new league year officially begins, and now that we know the 49ers adjusted salary cap, it’s time to take another look at the 49ers 2022 salary cap situation, along with my current mock offseason plan.

Thanks to Twitter user, and friend, @PatsCap, the 49ers adjusted cap for 2022 is $213,374,161, meaning they can spend that much this season, they had $1,558,245 in carryover from 2021 unused salary cap room, and $3,615,916 in adjustments/credits, leaving the team just $322,284 over the 2022 cap, which will be $208.2 million, but that’s with just 43 players signed, when they have 51, they’d be $5,962,284 over the cap, but that assumes the other 8 players are making just $705,000, which isn’t likely, so let’s look at what they’ll actually be looking at, before, and after they move on from Jimmy Garoppolo.

Let’s begin with the 43 players currently signed for 2022, which currently have a cap commitment of $208,528,720, plus $5,167,725 in dead money, gives the 49ers $213,696,445 in committed salaries for 2022.

Below are the 43 players signed, with their current 2022 cap numbers.

1. QB Jimmy Garoppolo(2022) – $26,950,000
2. QB Trey Lance(2024) – $7,751,195
3. RB Trey Sermon(2024) – $1,107,485
4. RB Elijah Mitchell(2024) – $870,893
5. FB Kyle Juszcyzk(2025) – $2,958,750
6. FB Josh Hokit(2022) – $705,000
7. WR Deebo Samuel(2022) – $4,890,519
8. WR Brandon Aiyuk(2023) – $3,417,641
9. WR KeeSean Johnson(2022) – $895,000
10. WR Austin Mack(2022) – $825,000
11. WR Connor Wedington(2022) – $705,000
12. TE George Kittle(2025) – $16,011,765
13. TE Charlie Woerner(2023) – $940,258
14. TE Tanner Hudson(2022) – $895,000
15. TE Jordan Matthews(2022) – $895,000
16. C Alex Mack(2023) – $6,725,000
17. RG Aaron Banks(2024) – $1,607,638
18. LT Trent Williams(2026) – $14,031,765
19. LT Jaylon Moore(2024) – $905,759
20. RT Mike McGlinchey(2022) – $10,880,000
21. RT Justin Skule(2022) – $1,009,887
22. RT Alfredo Gutierrez(2022) – $705,000
23. DE Nick Bosa(2022) – $10,805,564
24. DE Samson Ebukam(2022) – $8,250,000
25. DE Charles Omenihu(2022) – $2,540,000
26. DE Dee Ford(2022) – $11,909,997
27. DE Alex Barrett(2022) – $825,000
28. DT Arik Armstead(2024) – $20,000,000
29. DT Javon Kinlaw(2023) – $4,334,191
30. NT Chris Slayton(2022) – $705,000
31. CB Emmanuel Moseley(2022) – $6,555,529
32. CB Ambry Thomas(2024) – $1,087,693
33. CB Deommodore Lenoir(2024) – $896,217
34. CB Ka’dar Hollman(2022) – $895,000
35. WLB Dre Greenlaw(2022) – $2,620,429
36. WLB Curtis Robinson(2022) – $825,000
37. MLB Fred Warner(2026) – $8,134,588
38. FS Jimmie Ward(2022) – $12,935,588
39. FS Tarvarius Moore(2022) – $965,000
40. SS Talanoa Hufanga(2024) – $885,038
41. PK Robbie Gould(2022) – $5,509,313
42. P Mitch Wishnowsky(2022) – $1,156,018
43. LS Taybor Pepper(2022) – $1,120,000

The 49ers have the following free agents, either UFA, RFA, or ERFA.

UFA:

RB Raheem Mostert
RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
RB Trenton Cannon
WR Trent Sherfield
WR Travis Benjamin
WR Mohamed Sanu Sr.
WR Richie James Jr.
TE Ross Dwelley
C Jake Brendel
LG Laken Tomlinson
RT Tom Compton
DE Arden Key
DE Jordan Willis
DT Maurice Hurst Jr.
NT D.J. Jones
WLB Marcell Harris
CB Jason Verrett
CB K’Waun Williams
CB Josh Norman
CB Dontae Johnson
FS Tavon Wilson
SS Jaquiski Tartt

RFA:

RG Daniel Brunskill
DT Kentavius Street
SLB Azeez Al-Shaair

ERFA:

RB JaMycal Hasty
WR Jauan Jennings
LG Colton McKivitz
DT Kevin Givens
SLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles

When the 49ers tender their 5 ERFAs, they’ll end up being $6,842,284 over the 2022 salary cap, with Jennings getting the $825,000 ERFA tender, while Hasty, McKivitz, Givens, & Flannigan-Fowles would each get the $895,000 ERFA tender.

With their 3 RFAs, they have some options, with Brunskill & Al-Shaair the lowest tender they can use is known as the right of first refusal tender, which will be $2.433 million, but that means the 49ers wouldn’t get any compensation if they lost Brunskill or Al-Shaair, as they went undrafted, while Street’s lowest tender would be the original round tender, which would be $2.54 million, which means the 49ers would get a 4th-round pick if they lost Street, as he was drafted.

Now, the 49ers can also use 2 other tenders if they choose to do so, the 2nd-round level, which will be $3.986 million, and the 1st-round level, which will be $5.562 million, but the only player who would be considered for either is Al-Shaair, as the 49ers won’t want to risk losing him to another team without getting back something.

So, I doubt the 49ers tender either Brunskill or Street, as the tenders($2.433 million for Brunskill, & $2.54 million for Street) is too much, instead I’d think the 49ers would re-sign both to 1-year deals, worth much less than those tender amounts, say in the $1.265 million range, while Al-Shaair is the only one who would, in my opinion, get tendered, likely at the 2nd-round level, but hopefully they can re-sign him to a deal, hopefully multi-year deal, with a $1.3 million cap number in 2022, which would put the team $8,555,617 over the 2022 salary cap.

Now, the 49ers must be cap compliant before 4pm eastern on the 16th, with Jimmy Garoppolo on the roster, meaning they need to do some cap maneuvering to be cap compliant.

The 49ers have several options to get under the 2022 salary cap, they can restructure any of the following, tight end George Kittle($8.332 million max saved, $7,811,250 minimum saved), left tackle Trent Williams($4.904 million max & minimum saved), defensive tackle Arik Armstead($10.424 million max saved, $9,772,500 minimum saved), and free safety Jimmie Ward($6.224 million max saved, $5.835 million minimum saved).

Now, the only way I can see the 49ers touching Ward’s contract is if they extend him, as he’s already set to count $6.395 million in 2023 in dead money, so they’d either add an extra $6.224 million, or $5.835 million to that number, meaning they’d lose more 2023 cap room, so it’s more likely that the 49ers were to extend Ward.

The two other players that they could go to about altering their deals are right tackle Mike McGlinchey, & defensive end Samson Ebukam, they could get McGlinchey to either do a pseudo extension, where you add 4 void years, save $7.876 million, but that would leave $5.907 million in dead money in 2023 if no deal is reached, while they could go to Ebukam, get him to take a pay cut down to the minimum, $1.035 million, savings of $4.865 million.

So, that’s where I’ll stop with the current cap situation, and now let’s go into my current mock offseason plan, which can be found here.

I have the 49ers restructuring Armstead’s deal, & getting Ebukam to take a pay cut, which would leave the team $6,733,383 under the 2022 salary cap, this is with the team’s 5 ERFAs tendered, and the team re-signing their 3 RFAs to deals I mentioned above.

Now, with Garoppolo unloaded, that would put the team at $32,283,383 under the 2022 salary cap to begin the offseason.

Next up is UFAs re-signed.

RB Raheem Mostert – 1-year deal, worth up to $5 million with incentives, with a $1,764,706 2022 cap number
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 $45 million, averaging $9 million a year, with $18 million in guaranteed money, and a $2.5 million 2022 cap number.
CB Jason Verrett – 1-year deal, worth up to $5 million, with a $1,764,706 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 12 re-signings would cost $19,184,118 against the cap, but with the top 51 rule, the 49ers would be $21,764,265 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 $12,278,971 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 $56,707,500 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.
FS Jimmie Ward – 4-year deal, worth $45 million, averaging $11.25 million a year, with $15.065 million in guaranteed money, and a $6,711,588 2022 cap number.

With these 4 extensions, the 49ers would be $18,154,196 under the 2022 salary cap.

So, with all these roster moves, the 49ers would have 65 players signed for 2022.

1. QB Trey Lance(2024) – $7,751,195
2. QB Tyrod Taylor(2022) – $5,000,000
3. RB Trey Sermon(2024) – $1,107,485
4. RB Elijah Mitchell(2024) – $870,893
5. RB Raheem Mostert(2022) – $1,764,706
6. RB Cordarrelle Patterson(2023) – $4,485,294
7. RB JaMycal Hasty(2022) – $895,000
8. RB Trenton Cannon(2022) – $895,000
9. FB Kyle Juszyzck(2025) – $2,958,750
10. FB Josh Hokit(2022) – $705,000
11. WR Brandon Aiyuk(2023) – $3,417,641
12. WR Deebo Samuel(2027) – $4,919,519
13. WR Jauan Jennings(2022) – $825,000
14. WR Trent Sherfield(2022) – $895,000
15. WR Connor Wedington(2022) – $705,000
16. WR Austin Mack(2022) – $825,000
17. WR KeeSean Johnson(2022)- $895,000
18. TE George Kittle(2025) – $16,011,765
19. TE Charlie Woerner(2023) – $940,258
20. TE Jordan Matthews(2022) – $895,000
21. TE Tanner Hudson(2022) – $895,000
22. C Alex Mack(2023) – $6,725,000
23. C Jake Brendel(2022) – $895,000
24. LG Laken Tomlinson(2026) – $2,965,000
25. LG Colton McKivitz(2022) – $895,000
26. RG Aaron Banks(2024) – $1,607,638
27. RG Daniel Brunskill(2022) – $1,265,000
28. LT Trent Williams(2026) – $9,127,765
29. LT Jaylon Moore(2024) – $905,759
30. RT Mike McGlinchey(2022) – $10,880,000
31. RT Tom Compton(2022) – $1,047,500
32. RT Justin Skule(2022) – $1,009,887
33. RT Alfredo Gutierrez(2022) – $705,000
34. DE Nick Bosa(2027) – $12,500,339
35. DE Dee Ford(2022) – $11,909,997
36. DE Samson Ebukam(2022) – $3,385,000
37. DE Charles Omenihu(2022) – $2,396,000
38. DE Alex Barrett(2022) – $825,000
39. DE Arden Key(2022) – $1,285,000
40. DE Jordan Willis(2023) – $1,443,824
41. DT Arik Armstead(2024) – $9,576,000
42. DT Javon Kinlaw(2023) – $4,224,191
43. DT Kentavius Street(2022) – $1,265,000
44. DT Kevin Givens(2022) – $895,000
45. NT D.J. Jones(2026) – $2,500,000
46. NT Chris Slayton(2022) – $705,000
47. WLB Dre Greenlaw(2026) – $1,245,429
48. WLB Curtis Robinson(2022) – $825,000
49. MLB Fred Warner(2026) – $8,134,588
50. SLB Azeez Al-Shaair(2024) – $1,298,333
51. SLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles(2022) – $895,000
52. CB Levi Wallace(2026) – $2,635,000
53. CB Emmanuel Moseley(2022) – $6,584,941
54. CB K’Waun Williams(2024) – $2,455,882
55. CB Ambry Thomas(2024) – $1,087,693
56. CB Jason Verrett(2022) – $1,764,706
57. CB Deommodore Lenoir(2024) – $896,217
58. CB Ka’dar Hollman(2022) – $895,000
59. FS Jimmie Ward(2022) – $7,108,588
60. FS Tarvarius Moore(2022) – $965,000
61. SS Jaquiski Tartt(2022) – $1,272,500
62. SS Talanoa Hufanga(2024) – $885,038
63. PK Robbie Gould(2022) – $5,509,313
64. P Mitch Wishnowsky(2022) – $1,156,018
65. 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 $17,564,352 in 2022 salary cap room, but they’d be $890,648 over the 2022 salary cap when you factor in all players, & picks.

Now, I have in my offseason plan 48 players making the 53-man roster, or on a reserve/injured list, plus the team’s current 9 draft picks would count $181,952,200 along with $16,222,609 in dead money, including Dee Ford being released Post June 1, for a total of $198,174,809 in committed money, leaving the 49ers with $15,199,352 in salary cap room to begin the 2022 regular season, their practice squad would count around $2,905,200, leaving the 49ers with $12,294,152 in cap room, which should be enough to get through the season.

Of the 48 players I have on my projected 53-man roster + reserve/injured lists, 29 of them are currently signed for 2022, with the rest being 16 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), 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)

As for 2022 & beyond, the 49ers, under this plan would have 38 players signed for 2023, including the 9 draft picks, for 2023, with $22,660,712 in salary cap room on a projected $225 million cap, & with 51 players signed, it would be $12,910,712 under the 2022 salary cap, while they’ll have $27,665,341 in cap room in 2024 with 32 players signed, on a projected $256 million salary cap, but with 51 players signed, they’d be $13,355,341 under the 2024 salary cap.

After 2024, the 49ers salary cap room would have over $60 million in 2025, & over $113 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.

About Author

Jason Hurley

Die Hard 49ers fan from New York, been covering the 49ers salary cap since 2005, with several different websites, including NinersNation.com, & the now defunct NinerCapHell, I have a track record of being as accurate as possible, & I try to be as thorough as possible.

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