My Final 49ers 2023 53-man roster projection, with practice squad, & injured lists, plus 2023 & 2024 salary cap implications

The 49ers played their final preseason game Friday night against the Los Angeles Chargers, and now it’s time for my final 53-man roster projection.

The team has the following 92 players signed, with their cap numbers listed.

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

Now, my updated roster projection.

OFFENSE:

QB(3): 13 Brock Purdy(2025), 14 Sam Darnold(2023), & 4 Brandon Allen(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(5): 19 Deebo Samuel(2025), 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2024), 15 Jauan Jennings(2023), 3 Ray-Ray McCloud III(2023) & 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:

DE54): 97 Nick Bosa(2023), 95 Drake Jackson(2025), 94 Clelin Ferrell(2023), 92 Kerry Hyder Jr.(2023), & 56 Austin Bryant(2023)

DT(4): 91 Arik Armstead(2024), 99 Javon Kinlaw(2023), 90 Kevin Givens(2023), & 96 T.Y. McGill Jr.(2023)

NT(2): 98 Javon Hargrave(2026), & 93 Kalia Davis(2025)

WLB(1): 57 Dre Greenlaw(2024)

MLB(2): 54 Fred Warner(2026), & 50 Jalen Graham(2026)

SLB(2): 48 Oren Burks(2023), & 53 Dee Winters(2026)

CB(5): 7 Charvarius Ward(2024), 2 Deommodore Lenoir(2024), 26 Isaiah Oliver(2024), 0 Samuel Womack III(2025), & 20 Ambry Thomas(2024)

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:

WR 6 Danny Gray(2025)- AC Joint Sprain (Short Term IR)

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

PRACTICE SQUAD:

1. FB 33 Jack Colletto
2. WR 83 Willie Snead IV*
3. WR 17 Chris Conley*
4. TE 89 Charlie Woerner*
5. C 67 Keith Ismael
6. RG 51 Jason Poe
7. RG 66 Joey Fisher
8. LT 75 Matt Pryor*
9. LT 60 Ilm Manning
10. RT 77 Alfredo Gutierrez**
11. DE 69 Spencer Waege
12. DE 58 Alex Barrett
13. CB 22 D’Shawn Jamison
14. CB 43 Qwuantrezz Knight
15. FS 41 Tayler Hawkins
16. SS 38 Myles Hartsfield*
17. PK 10 Zane Gonzalez*

For the 49ers 2023 salary cap, they would have $207,470,504
in committed salaries for 73 players, with another $28,134,675
in dead money, a total cap commitment of $235,605,179 putting them $1,915,089 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 $11,694,089 under, but this does include split salaries for Luter, & Beal, as 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 42 players signed, with a commitment of $261,872,315, plus $7,233,961 in dead money, for a total commitment of $269,106,276, putting them $13,106,276 over the projected 2024 salary cap of $256 million, with 42 players signed, and with 51 signed, they’d be $20,261,276 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 $22,629,692 over with 42 players signed, and $29,794,692 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 $20,925,908 under with 42 players signed, or $13,770,908 under with 51 players signed.

Of course, this doesn’t include any projected carryover, which would be in the $5 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.

WR Willie Snead IV – $250,000

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

That’s a total of $620,800.

As for UDFAs on the practice squad.

FB Jack Colletto – $100,000

G Joey Fisher – $115,000

T Ilm Manning – $90,000

DE Spencer Waege – $40,000

CB D’Shawn Jamison – $120,000

That’s $465,000, added to the $620,800, for a total of $1,085,800.

So, if we add the $1,085,800 adjustments to the $5 million projected carryover, that’s an additional $6,085,800 in cap room, putting the team $27,011,708 under with 42 players signed, and $19,856,708 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 $22,905,708 with 43 players signed, or $14,955,708 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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