Updated 49ers 2023 53-man roster projection, plus practice squad, & injured lists, plus 2023 & 2024 salary cap implications, pre preseason week 2

The 49ers are set to host the Denver Broncos tomorrow for their second preseason game, in which Brock Purdy, and the starters are expected to play a series or two, but I’m here to update my 53-man roster projection, pre week 2 of the preseason.

The team has the following 94 players signed, with their cap numbers listed.

1. QB 13 Brock Purdy(2025)- $889,253
2. QB 5 Trey Lance(2024)- $9,301,434
3. QB 14 Sam Darnold(2023)- $5,711,765
4. QB 4 Brandon Allen(2023)- $1,092,500
5. RB 23 Christian McCaffrey(2025)- $3,424,000
6. RB 25 Elijah Mitchell(2024)- $985,893
7. RB 32 Tyrion Davis-Price(2025)- $1,161,033
8. RB 24 Jordan Mason(2024)- $873,333
9. RB 36 Khalan Laborn(2025)- $753,333
10. RB 22 Jeremy McNichols(2023)- $940,000
11. FB 44 Kyle Juszczyk(2025)- $6,565,221
12. FB 33 Jack Colletto(2025)- $753,333
13. WR 19 Deebo Samuel(2025)- $8,653,529
14. WR 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2023)- $3,987,248
15. WR 15 Jauan Jennings(2023)- $940,000
16. WR/KR/PR 3 Ray-Ray McCloud III(2023)- $2,090,000
17. WR 6 Danny Gray(2025)- $1,146,569
18. WR 86 Tay Martin(2023)- $750,000
19. WR 84 Dazz Newsome(2023)- $870,000
20. WR 17 Chris Conley(2023)- $1,092,500
21. WR 83 Willie Snead IV(2023)- $965,000
22. WR/KR/PR 10 Ronnie Bell(2026)- $770,482
23. WR 2 Isaiah Winstead(2025)- $750,333
24. TE 85 George Kittle(2025)- $18,033,751
25. TE 89 Charlie Woerner(2023)- $1,055,258
26. TE 82 Ross Dwelley(2023)- $1,080,000
27. TE 81 Cameron Latu(2026)- $975,805
28. TE 9 Brayden Willis(2026)- $771,039
29. TE 88 Troy Fumagalli(2023)- $940,000
30. C 64 Jake Brendel(2026)- $2,272,000
31. C 55 Jon Feliciano(2023)- $3,250,000
32. C 67 Keith Ismael(2023)- $940,000
33. C 61 Corey Luciano(2025)- $751,666
34. LG 65 Aaron Banks(2024)- $1,929,166
35. LG 63 Nick Zakelj(2025)- $917,590
36. RG 74 Spencer Burford(2025)- $1,038,014
37. RG 51 Jason Poe(2023)- $750,000
38. RG 66 Joey Fisher(2025)- $755,000
39. LT 71 Trent Williams(2026)- $27,227,424
40. LT 75 Matt Pryor(2023)- $990,000
41. LT 78 Leroy Watson IV(2023)- $750,000
42. LT 60 Ilm Manning(2025)- $755,000
43. RT 68 Colton McKivitz(2024)- $1,515,412
44. RT 76 Jaylon Moore(2024)- $1,020,759
45. RT 77 Alfredo Gutierrez(2023)- $750,000
46. DE 97 Nick Bosa(2023)- $17,859,000
47. DE/DT 92 Kerry Hyder Jr.(2023)- $940,000
48. DE 95 Drake Jackson(2025)- $1,339,180
49. DE 94 Clelin Ferrell(2023)- $2,460,000
50. DE 58 Alex Barrett(2023)- $870,000
51. DE 56 Austin Bryant(2023)- $965,000
52. DE 55 Robert Beal Jr.(2026)- $814,510
53. DE 69 Spencer Wage(2025)- $753,333
54. DE 66 Darryl Johnson Jr.(2023)- $500,000 [IR]
55. DE 77 Taco Charlton(2023)- $940,000
56. DE 78 Daelin Hayes(2023)- $475,000 [IR]
57. DE 66 Breeland Speaks(2023)- $870,000
58. DT 91 Arik Armstead(2024)- $23,755,883
59. DT 90 Kevin Givens(2023)- $2,000,000
60. DT/NT 99 Javon Kinlaw(2023)- $4,928,223
61. DT/NT 96 T.Y. McGill Jr.(2023)- $940,000
62. DT 62 Marlon Davidson(2023)- $940,000
63. NT/DT 98 Javon Hargrave(2026)- $6,595,000
64. NT 93 Kalia Davis(2025)- $783,003
65. SLB 45 Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles(2023)- $1,825,000
66. SLB 40 Marcelino McCrary-Ball(2023)- $750,000
67. SLB 53 Dee Winters(2026)- $785,110
68. SLB 50 Jalen Graham(2026)- $770,482
69. WLB 57 Dre Greenlaw(2024)- $5,648,558
70. WLB 59 Curtis Robinson(2023)- $940,000
71. MLB 54 Fred Warner(2026)- $9,049,000
72. MLB 48 Oren Burks(2023)- $2,773,000
73. MLB 51 Kyahva Tezino(2023)- $750,000
74. CB 7 Charvarius Ward(2024)- $6,421,000
75. CB 20 Ambry Thomas(2024)- $1,305,232
76. CB 2 Deommodore Lenoir(2024)- $1,011,217
77. CB 26 Isaiah Oliver(2024)- $1,686,000
78. CB 0 Samuel Womack III(2025)- $940,831
79. CB 43 Qwuantrezz Knight(2023)- $750,000
80. CB 47 A.J. Parker(2023)- $940,000
81. CB 35 Tre Swilling(2023)- $750,000
82. CB 28 Darrell Luter Jr.(2026)- $832,555 [PUP]
83. CB/KR/PR 22 D’Shawn Jamison(2025)- $756,666
84. CB 36 Nate Brooks(2023)- $750,000
85. FS 31 Tashaun Gipson Sr.(2023)- $2,100,000
86. FS 41 Tayler Hawkins(2023)- $750,000
87. FS 38 Myles Hartsfield(2023)- $1,010,000
88. FS 27 Ji’Ayir Brown(2026)- $993,368
89. SS 29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024)- $1,000,038
90. SS 30 George Odum(2024)- $2,340,000
91. PK 10 Zane Gonzalez(2023)- $1,465,000
92. PK 4 Jake Moody(2026)- $975,805
93. P 18 Mitch Wishnowsky(2026)- $1,700,000
94. LS 46 Taybor Pepper(2025)- $1,225,000

Now, my updated roster projection.

OFFENSE:

QB(3): 13 Brock Purdy(2025), 5 Trey Lance(2024), & 14 Sam Darnold(2023)

RB(4): 23 Christian McCaffrey(2025), 25 Elijah Mitchell(2024), 32 Tyrion Davis-Price(2025), & 24 Jordan Mason(2024)

FB(1): 44 Kyle Juszcyzk(2025)

WR(6): 19 Deebo Samuel(2025), 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2024), 15 Jauan Jennings(2023), 3 Ray-Ray McCloud III(2023), 6 Danny Gray(2025), & 10 Ronnie Bell(2026)

TE(4): 85 George Kittle(2025), 82 Ross Dwelley(2023), 81 Cameron Latu(2026), & 9 Brayden Willis(2026)

C(2): 64 Jake Brendel(2026), & 55 Jon Feliciano(2023)

LG(2): 65 Aaron Banks(2024), & 63 Nick Zakelj(2025)

RG(1): 74 Spencer Burford(2025)

LT(2): 71 Trent Williams(2026), & 76 Jaylon Moore(2024)

RT(1): 68 Colton McKivitz(2024)

DEFENSE:

DE(6): 97 Nick Bosa(2023), 95 Drake Jackson(2025), 94 Clelin Ferrell(2023), 56 Austin Bryant(2023), & 92 Kerry Hyder Jr.(2023)

DT(3): 91 Arik Armstead(2024), 99 Javon Kinlaw(2023), & 90 Kevin Givens(2023)

NT(1): 98 Javon Hargrave(2026)

WLB(1): 57 Dre Greenlaw(2024)

MLB(2): 54 Fred Warner(2026), & 48 Oren Burks(2023)

SLB(2): 40 Marcelino McCrary-Ball(2023), & 53 Dee Winters(2026)

CB(6): 7 Charvarius Ward(2024), 2 Deommodore Lenoir(2024), 26 Isaiah Oliver(2024), 0 Samuel Womack III(2025), 20 Ambry Thomas(2024), & 22 D’Shawn Jamison(2025)

FS(2): 31 Tashaun Gipson Sr.(2023), & 27 Ji’Ayir Brown(2026)

SS(2): 29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024), & 30 George Odum(2024)

SPECIAL TEAMS:

PK(1): 4 Jake Moody(2026)

P(1): 18 Mitch Wishnowsky(2026)

LS(1): 46 Taybor Pepper(2025)

PUP:

CB 28 Darrell Luter Jr.(2026)- Bone Bruise

IR:

DE 55 Robert Beal Jr.(2026)- Unknown Minor Injury (Short Term IR)

NT 93 Kalia Davis(2025)- Unknown Minor Injury (Short Term IR)

PRACTICE SQUAD:

1. QB 4 Brandon Allen*
2. RB 36 Khalan Laborn
3. FB 33 Jack Colletto
4. WR 83 Willie Snead IV*
5. WR 17 Chris Conley*
6. RG 51 Jason Poe
7. RG 66 Joey Fisher
8. LT 75 Matt Pryor*
9. LT 78 Leroy Watson IV
10. LT 60 Ilm Manning
11. RT 77 Alfredo Gutierrez**
12. DE 77 Taco Charlton*
13. DE 58 Alex Barrett
14. DT 96 T.Y. McGill Jr.*
15. SLB 50 Jalen Graham
16. CB 43 Qwuantrezz Knight
17. FS 41 Tayler Hawkins

For the 49ers 2023 salary cap, they would have $215,632,214 in committed salaries for 73 players, with another $20,171,021 in dead money, a total cap commitment of $235,803,235 putting them $1,717,033 under their $237,520,268 adjusted salary cap for 2022, but this is before Nick Bosa’s pending extension, which I expect the team to use a $35 million signing bonus, which would lower Bosa’s cap hit by $9.779 million, putting the team $11,496,033 under, but this also doesn’t include split salaries for Luter, Beal, & Davis, so they should get less for the weeks they’re out,

Next up is 2024, and with the Nick Bosa extension pending, I still believe the cap number for 2024 will come in around $12 million, which would give them 43 players signed, with a commitment of $272,711,208, plus $1,728,009 in dead money, for a total commitment of $274,439,217, putting them $18,439,217 over the projected 2024 salary cap of $256 million, with 43 players signed, and with 51 signed, they’d be $24,799,217 over that $256 million number.

I also need to mention that the 49ers have 4 players that could/will see base salary increases, Elijah Mitchell, Aaron Banks, Deommodore Lenoir, and Talanoa Hufanga, with Hufanga already guaranteed to see his base salary escalate to the 2^nd-round RFA tender level, which would be $4.901 million.

Now, for Mitchell, Banks, & Lenoir, they would likely see their base salaries escalate to the original round tender level, which is projected to be $3.124 million, so all in all, that’s an extra $9,533,416 added to team commitments, putting them $27,972,633 over with 43 players signed, and $34,332,633 over with 51 players signed.

Now, the team will have to rework contracts to get under the 2024 salary cap, especially if they want to keep their core together, and below are their options.

RB Christian McCaffrey – $8,472,000 (Restructure)

FB Kyle Juszcyzk – $3,632,000 (Restructure)

WR Deebo Samuel – $15,877,600 (Restructure)

TE George Kittle – $9,752,000 (Restructure)

LT Trent Williams – $15,072,000 (Restructure)

DT Arik Armstead – $12,960,000 (Extension or Restructure)

NT Javon Hargrave – $6,140,000 (Restructure)

MLB Fred Warner – $11,340,000 (Restructure)

WLB Dre Greenlaw – $5,580,000 (Extension or Restructure)

CB Charvarius Ward – $9,148,000 (Extension or Restructure)

My ideal way of making cap room is to extend Arik Armstead, Dre Greenlaw, & Charvarius Ward, saving the team $27.688 million, while also redoing Deebo Samuel’s deal, saving the team $15,877,600, for a total of $43,565,600, putting the 49ers $15,592,967 under with 43 players signed, or $9,232,967 under with 51 players signed.

Of course, this doesn’t include any projected carryover, which would be in the $4 million range with my roster projection, or any adjustments/credits, from players given guarantees in their base salaries, which should look something like this.

Veterans on the practice squad.

QB Brandon Allen – $200,000

WR Willie Snead IV – $250,000

WR Chris Conley – $370,800 of $400,000

DT T.Y. McGill Jr. – $370,800 of $400,000

That’s a total of $1,191,600.

As for UDFAs on the practice squad.

RB Khalan Laborn – $35,000

FB Jack Colletto – $100,000

G Joey Fisher – $115,000

T Ilm Manning – $90,000

That’s $340,000, added to the $1,191,600, for a total of $1,531,600.

So, if we add the $1,531,600 adjustments to the $4 million projected carryover, that’s an additional $5,531,600 in cap room, putting the team $21,124,567 under with 43 players signed, and $14,764,567 with 51 players signed.

Now, the team will most definitely tender wide receiver Jauan Jennings at the 2^nd-round RFA level, which would be $4.901 million, putting the team $17,018,567 with 44 players signed, or $9,863,567 with 51 players signed.

I also didn’t mention any incentives that currently count against the 2023 salary cap, or incentives that don’t count, so they may be able to recoup some of the $3.3 million in LTBE incentives, especially the $1.8 million from Sam Darnold, or the $1 million from Jon Feliciano, but I’d rather not try to guesstimate what the numbers could be, or what the 49ers could lose if certain players hit their incentives, which I did an article on, and can be found here.

With that said, I think I’ll stop right there, as the team will have enough cap room next year, even if they have to restructure guys like George Kittle, & Trent Williams, if they can’t get Armstead, Greenlaw, & Ward extended before next March, plus the team will be looking to extend the likes of Aaron Banks, Deommodore Lenoir, & Talanoa Hufanga, all who will be on expiring deals, and of course Brandon Aiyuk, who has a $14.124 million cap hit for 2024, which should be lowered with an extension sometime in the Summer of 2024.

Now, this is where I remind people to not worry about 2024, and just enjoy the 2023 season, as we’re just a few weeks away from the 49ers opening the 2023 season at Pittsburgh.

I thank you for reading, and follow me on Twitter @49erscap for more salary cap information & tidbits.

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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