Another look at the 49ers 2023 salary cap situation

So yesterday I posted my updated projected roster for 2022, which can be found by clicking here, but today I’m going to take a look at the 49ers 2023 cap situation, both as it stands now, & with my roster projection.

The 49ers currently have 44 players signed for 2023 with a cap commitment of $188,594,675, plus $14,984,999 in dead money for a total cap commitment of $203,579,674, leaving the 49ers $21,420,326 under a projected 2023 salary cap of $225 million, but that’s with the 45 players, if we add in enough to get to 51, they’d be $16,170,326 under the 2023 cap.

Of course the $16 million isn’t a lot, but we’ve seen what the 49ers have been able to do the past 2 offseasons, being able to retain Trent Williams, Kyle Juszcyzk, bring in Alex Mack, Samson Ebukam, Charvarius Ward, plus other additions like Ray-Ray McCloud III, George Odum, & Oren Burks, so no one should worry about this, plus the fact that if/when Deebo Samuel & Nick Bosa, those deals will be backloaded, with cheap 2023 salary cap numbers.

Now let’s look at those 45 players, and their 2023 cap numbers.

1. LT Trent Williams(2026)- $26,270,000
2. DT Arik Armstead(2024)- $24,346,000
3. MLB Fred Warner(2026)- $18,525,000
4. TE George Kittle(2025)- $18,383,000
5. DE Nick Bosa(2023)- $17,869,000
6. CB Charvarius Ward(2024)- $16,405,000
7. QB Trey Lance(2024)- $9,301,434
8. FB Kyle Juszycyzk(2025)- $6,588,750
9. C Alex Mack(2023)- $5,075,000
10. DT Javon Kinlaw(2023)- $4,928,223
11. WR Brandon Aiyuk(2023)- $3,987,248
12. MLB Oren Burks(2023)- $2,773,000
13. WR/KR/PR Ray-Ray McCloud(2023)- $2,090,000
14. LG Aaron Banks(2024)- $1,929,166
15. SS George Odum(2024)- $1,840,000
16. DE Drake Jackson(2025)- $1,339,180
17. RB Trey Sermon(2024)- $1,328,982
18. CB Ambry Thomas(2024)- $1,305,232
19. RB Tyrion Davis-Price(2025)- $1,161,033
20. WR Danny Gray(2025)- $1,146,569
21. TE Charlie Woerner(2023)- $1,055,258
22. RT Spencer Burford(2025)- $1,038,014
23. RG Jaylon Moore(2024)- $1,020,759
24. CB Deommodore Lenoir(2024)- $1,011,217
25. SS Talanoa Hufanga(2024)- $1,000,038
26. RB Elijah Mitchell(2024)- $985,893
27. CB Samuel Womack(2025)- $940,831
28. LG Nick Zakelj(2025)- $917,590
29. NT Kalia Davis(2025)- $903,003
30. CB Tariq Castro-Fields(2025)- $903,003
31. QB Brock Purdy(2025)- $889,253
32. WLB Jeremiah Gemmel(2024)- $876,666
33. SLB Marcelino McCrary-Ball(2024)- $876,666
34. C Dohnovan West(2024)- $875,000
35. SS Leon O’Neal(2024)- $873,333
36. C Jason Poe(2024)- $873,333
37. CB Qwuantrezz Knight(2024)- $872,000
38. WLB Segun Olubi(2024)- $871,000
39. WR Tay Martin(2024)- $870,000
40. WR Taysir Mack(2024)- $870,000
41. CB Tayler Hawkins(2024)- $870,000
42. DT Kevin Atkins(2024)- $870,000
43. LT Sam Schlueter(2024)- $870,000
44. RB Jordan Mason(2024)- $870,000

Now, under my projected roster, the 49ers would have 31 players signed, with a cap commitment of $178,115,756, plus $15,082,093 in dead money, for a total cap commitment of $193,197,849, leaving them $31,802,151 under a $225 million cap, but with 51 players they’d be $16,802,151 under, which is still enough to do what the 49ers decide to do.

Now, the players who are signed for 2023 that are no longer under my projected roster are, quarterback Brock Purdy, running back Jordan Mason, wide receivers Tay Martin, & Taysir Mack, center Jason Poe, left tackle Sam Schlueter, defensive tackle Kevin Atkins, weakside linebackers Jeremiah Gemmel, & Segun Olubi, strongside linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball, cornerback Qwuantrezz Knight, & free safety Tayler Hawkins, with all but  Atkins, Olubi, & McCrary-Ball on my initial practice squad.

So if we add in the players on the practice squad to the 2023 payroll on reserve/future deals, each at 1-year, $750,000, that gives the team 39 players signed, for a total cap commitment of $184,115,756, plus the aforementioned $15,082,093 in dead money, for a total of $199,197,849 in cap commitment, putting the 49ers at $25,802,151 under a $225 million cap, but with 51 players they’d be at $16,802,151 in cap room, which is still enough to do what the 49ers decide they need to do.

Of the roster I have, the one player who’s guaranteed to be here in 2023 is wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who would get a 1-year, $940,000 tender, putting the team $24,862,151 under, with 40 players signed, & $16,612,151 with 51 signed.

I do expect Deebo Samuel & Nick Bosa to be extended this offseason, in which I can see their 2023 cap numbers being around $8 million for Deebo, & $12 million for Bosa, which would then put the 49ers $22,731,151 under with the 42 players signed, & $15,231,151 with 51 players signed.

Below would be the 49ers free agents with this roster projection.

UFA:

QB Nate Sudfeld
RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
TE Ross Dwelley
RG Daniel Brunskill
RT Mike McGlinchey
DE Samson Ebukam
DE Kerry Hyder Jr.
DE Kemoko Turay
DE Charles Omenihu
NT Hassan Ridgeway
WLB Dre Greenlaw
SLB Azeez Al-Shaair
CB Emmanuel Moseley
CB Jason Verrett
FS Jimmie Ward
FS Tarvarius Moore
PK Robbie Gould
P Mitch Wishnowsky
LS Taybor Pepper

RFA:

LG Colton McKivitz
DT Kevin Givens

ERFA:

WR Jauan Jennings

I think it’s obvious that the 49ers will be moving on from the likes of right tackle Mike McGlinchey, defensive end Samson Ebukam, & cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, and I’ll explain why down below.

When it comes to McGlinchey, the 49ers have used several draft picks on offensive lineman in the past 2 years, with the most likely player to take over for McGlinchey being 2022 4^th-round pick Spencer Burford, and the fact that whether or not he plays good, or bad, the team will decide that they either can’t afford him, or he’s not worth re-signing.

As for Ebukam, & Moseley, the 49ers drafted Drake Jackson in the 2^nd-round of the 2022 NFL draft, with the hope of having him as that speed rusher opposite Nick Bosa long term, and they’ve drafted several cornerbacks, likes of Samuel Womack III, Ambry Thomas, Tariq Castro-Fields, & Deommodore Lenoir, plus I doubt the 49ers will want to pay Moseley the kind of money that he could command.

The other free agents that the team may want to bring back should be easy re-signings, but the only other free agent that the 49ers would likely want back is free safety Jimmie Ward, who is set to count $6.395 million against the 2023 cap in dead money, so the team could choose to try & extend him before his deal expires, and if done before week 1, they could save up-to $6.224 million in 2022 cap room.

So, expect the 49ers to extend Brandon Aiyuk, while adding 1 splash signing, and rounding the roster out in free agency & the draft, but it is just May, so we have just under a year until we will be talking about this, more in depth of course.

And as always, thanks for reading, leave a comment, or follow me on Twitter @49erscap.

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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