The 49ers are preparing for the NFC Championship game right now, so I figured I would look at the 49ers 2023 free agents, one by one, as to who should be here in 2023, and who shouldn’t be here in 2023.
Let’s begin with the teams’ unrestricted free agents.
QB Jimmy Garoppolo – As much as I love Jimmy, I think it’s time to move on, the 49ers have found, in my eyes, their future QB in Brock Purdy, plus the 49ers would likely get a 3rd-round or 4th-round compensatory pick, depending on average salary, and how much he plays in 2023.
QB Josh Johnson – I wouldn’t be mad if the 49ers re-signed him, I think as a camp body, but I think he’s not part of the 2023 roster, as I believe the 49ers will roll with Purdy & Trey Lance at QB.
TE Ross Dwelley – Dwelley has been inactive for several games, including the Seattle wild card game, and he just isn’t TE2 material, so I expect the team to let him go, unless they decide to bring him back on a veteran minimum deal, anything higher is too much.
TE Tyler Kroft – Kroft is a good player, someone I’d bring back as a TE3 to battle with Charlie Woerner, which hopes of the team drafting a gem TE2 of the future, but Kroft’s deal would have to be for the league minimum.
C Jake Brendel – Of the teams’ offensive free agents, Brendel is one of the biggest must keeps in my eyes, somewhere in the $6 million a year range is fair, he’ll be either 31 or 32 by the time 2023 comes around, so a 3-year deal is fair in my opinion.
RG Daniel Brunskill – I think Brunskill should be considered to be brought back, he’s a good swing OL, a guy who plays pretty much every OL spot, but I think the team needs to develop a Nick Zakelj, or Jason Poe to take his place, plus I think there will be a market for Brunskill.
RT Mike McGlinchey – Early on I said no way to bring McGlinchey back, and while he’s played very good in this winning streak, I’m worried he’s outplayed what the 49ers would want to bring him back, as he’s going to get at least $15 million a year, and I’m not sure the team will want to pay two Tackles the kind of money Trent Williams, and McGlinchey would make.
DE Samson Ebukam – I really hope the team finds a way to re-sign Ebukam, and also some other EDGE rush free agents, but as for Ebukam, I see his market as $6 million a year, and he’s been playing really good down the stretch, that blocked extra point was huge, so I hope they do bring him back.
DE Charles Omenihu – Another player I hope the 49ers bring back, despite his recent arrest, I hope the 49ers bring Omenihu back, somewhere in the $6 million a year range seems fair.
DE Jordan Willis – Yet again, another EDGE I like a lot, and hope they keep, I’m hoping it’s a 1-year veteran minimum deal, or at the most $2.5 million a year on a multi-year deal.
DE Kerry Hyder Jr. – Hyder is a guy I’d love to bring back, on a 1-year deal, worth $2.5 million, he played every game, and has looked good, he doesn’t have the same stats he had in 2020, but he is a guy that plays both on the EDGE and inside on the defensive line.
DT T.Y. McGill Jr. – Another player I would want to bring back to compete though for a roster spot, veteran minimum deal, maybe with the maximum $152,500 in bonuses, or incentives.
NT Hassan Ridgeway – I’d love to see Ridgeway back in 2023, it sucks that he could be ready for the super bowl, but due to the stupid NFL rules, he can’t play due to only 8 players being brought back off of IR, and the 49ers have used those 8 players already, if the 49ers can get Ridgeway on a similar deal as to what he signed this past offseason, then you do it.
SLB Azeez Al-Shaair – I would love to have Al-Shaair back, but I just don’t see the 49ers paying 3 LBs the kind of money Warner, Greenlaw, and Al-Shaair would make, but if they decide to do so, then I’m all for it.
CB Emmanuel Moseley – Moseley was having a good season, but went down 5 games into the season with a torn ACL, and he was set to get a big payday, somewhere in the $13 million a year range, similar to Charvarius Ward’s deal, but I can see the 49ers keeping E-Man on a 1-year deal, worth up-to $10 million with incentives, $5 million in base value, a deal that Moseley would sign, as a 1-year prove it deal in my eyes.
CB Jason Verrett – I think it’s time to move on Verrett, who was activated off of reserve/PUP, but didn’t play a game, as he tore his Achilles, and he’s had chance over chance to come in, and earn a spot, it just doesn’t seem to be realistic, and it sucks, as JV is a Pro Bowl cornerback, but he can’t stay healthy.
FS Jimmie Ward – If the 49ers don’t sign Ward by the time his deal voids, it’ll leave a $6.395 million dead money hit, and with Ward being put in the slot, I doubt he wants to play there, and make less money, so I see him as gone, as he’ll want to test the open market.
FS Tashaun Gipson Sr. – Gipson had 5 INTs this season, and he came out of nowhere to look this good, yes he’s not the best, nor the youngest, but he’s a good safety, and if he signs a 1-year deal, worth the league minimum, I’d bring him back.
PK Robbie Gould – Gould had a very good season, yes he missed what would have been a game winner in regulation at the Raiders, but he got redemption by kicking the game winner in OT, so I’d bring him back, likely in the $4 million a year range, but he may retire, or he might want to be closer to home, Chicago, instead of staying in the Bay Area.
LS Taybor Pepper – Pepper is a very good long snapper, and when you don’t hear his name being called, that’s huge for a LS, so if I’m the 49ers I bring him back on a cheap multi-year deal.
When we look at the teams’ restricted and exclusive rights free agents, I expect the 49ers to tender all 4 of them, with DT Kevin Givens & SLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles getting the right of first refusal tender, which is worth $2.629 million on a $225 million cap, while LT Colton McKivitz gets the original round tender, which would be worth $2.745 million, and WR Jauan Jennings gets the ERFA tender of $940,000, a real steal.
Well there you have, each free agent broken down, I thank you for reading, and please follow me on Twitter @49erscap for more salary cap information, and tidbits.
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