An updated look at the 49ers 2023 salary cap situation with week 5 a few days away

With week 4 behind us, and week 5 a few days away, I think it’s time to take another deep look into the 49ers current 2023 salary cap situation as it stands today.

Right now, they have 75 players signed, with $167,443,329 in committed salaries, plus $29,019,208 in dead money, for a total of $196,462,537 in total committed salaries, putting the team $41,057,731 under their 2023 adjusted cap of $237,520,268, giving them the most salary cap room in the NFL.

Now, below are the 75 players signed, with their 2023 salary cap number.

53-Man Roster:

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. FB 44 Kyle Juszczyk(2025)- $6,565,221
9. WR 19 Deebo Samuel(2025)- $8,653,529
10. WR 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2023)- $3,987,248
11. WR 15 Jauan Jennings(2023)- $940,000
12. WR/KR/PR 3 Ray-Ray McCloud III(2023)- $2,090,000
13. WR 10 Ronnie Bell(2026)- $770,482
14. TE 85 George Kittle(2025)- $9,577,751
15. TE 89 Charlie Woerner(2023)- $1,055,258
16. TE 82 Ross Dwelley(2023)- $1,080,000
17. TE 9 Brayden Willis(2026)- $771,039
18. C 64 Jake Brendel(2026)- $2,272,000
19. C 55 Jon Feliciano(2023)- $3,250,000
20. LG 65 Aaron Banks(2024)- $1,929,166
21. LG 63 Nick Zakelj(2025)- $917,590
22. RG 74 Spencer Burford(2025)- $1,038,014
23. LT 71 Trent Williams(2026)- $12,639,424
24. LT 76 Jaylon Moore(2024)- $1,020,759
25. RT 68 Colton McKivitz(2024)- $1,515,412
26. RT 75 Matt Pryor(2023)- $990,000
27. DE 97 Nick Bosa(2023)- $11,080,000
28. DE/DT 92 Kerry Hyder Jr.(2023)- $940,000
29. DE 95 Drake Jackson(2025)- $1,339,180
30. DE 94 Clelin Ferrell(2023)- $2,460,000
31. DT 91 Arik Armstead(2024)- $11,975,883
32. DT 90 Kevin Givens(2023)- $2,000,000
33. DT/NT 99 Javon Kinlaw(2023)- $4,928,223
34. NT/DT 98 Javon Hargrave(2026)- $6,595,000
35. NT 93 Kalia Davis(2025)- $783,003
36. SLB 48 Oren Burks(2023)- $2,773,000
37. SLB 53 Dee Winters(2026)- $785,110
38. WLB 57 Dre Greenlaw(2024)- $5,648,558
39. WLB 45 Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles(2023)- $1,825,000
40. MLB 54 Fred Warner(2026)- $9,049,000
41. MLB 50 Jalen Graham(2026)- $770,482
42. CB 7 Charvarius Ward(2024)- $6,421,000
43. CB 20 Ambry Thomas(2024)- $1,305,232
44. CB 2 Deommodore Lenoir(2024)- $1,011,217
45. CB 26 Isaiah Oliver(2024)- $1,686,000
46. CB 22 Anthony Brown(2023)- $783,333
47. FS 31 Tashaun Gipson Sr.(2023)- $2,100,000
48. FS 27 Ji’Ayir Brown(2026)- $993,368
49. SS 29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024)- $1,000,038
50. SS 30 George Odum(2024)- $2,340,000
51. PK 4 Jake Moody(2026)- $975,805
52. P 18 Mitch Wishnowsky(2026)- $1,700,000
53. LS 46 Taybor Pepper(2025)- $1,225,000

Injured Reserve:

1. WR 6 Danny Gray(2025)- $1,146,569
2. TE 81 Cameron Latu(2026)- $614,378
3. DE 51 Robert Beal Jr.(2026)- $744,578
4. CB 0 Samuel Womack III(2025)- $567,775

PUP:

1. CB 28 Darrell Luter Jr.(2026)- $761,711

Practice Squad:

1. RB 22 Jeremy McNichols*(2023)- $288,400
2. WR 86 Tay Martin(2023)- $216,000
3. WR 17 Chris Conley*(2023)- $404,422
4. WR 83 Willie Snead IV*2023)- $404,422
5. WR 2 Isaiah Winstead(2023)- $216,000
6. TE 88 Jake Tonges(2023)- $180,000
7. C 61 Corey Luciano(2023)- $216,000
8. LT 60 Ilm Manning(2023)- $168,000
9. LT 78 Leroy Watson IV(2023)- $216,000
10. RT 77 Alfredo Gutierrez**(2023)- $0
11. DE 58 Alex Barrett(2023)- $216,000
12. DE 56 Austin Bryant*(2023)- $350,200
13. DT/NT 96 T.Y. McGill Jr.*(2023)- $370,800
14. WLB 59 Curtis Robinson(2023)- $256,222
15. CB 38 Shemar Jean-Charles(2023)- $256,222
16. CB 35 Kendall Sheffield*(2023)- $281,511
17. FS 43 Tre Norwood(2023)- $180,000

Now, let’s look at what the team needs in cap room for potential per game roster bonus paybacks.

QB Sam Darnold – $588,235

FB Kyle Juszcyzk – $23,529

WR Deebo Samuel – $176,471

TE George Kittle – $58,824

LT Trent Williams – $132,353

RT Colton McKivitz – $70,588

DE Clelin Ferrell – $40,000

DT Arik Armstead – $352,941

WLB Dre Greenlaw – $58,824

CB Isaiah Oliver – $100,000

That’s a total of $1,601,766 needed this season to potentially payback 10 players.

Now let’s look at what players have LTBE incentives for 2023.

QB Sam Darnold – $1.8 million, $1.2 million of it is due to Darnold playing 25% of the Panthers offensive snaps, plus winning those games, the other $600,000 is unknown at this time.

WR Deebo Samuel – $150,000, this is for Deebo rushing for 3 or more touchdowns.

C Jon Feliciano – $1,000,000, this is for a undisclosed percentage of offensive snaps.

SS George Odum – $250,000, this is for Odum being named 2nd-team All-Pro last season.

P Mitch Wishnowsky – $100,000, this is for punt percentage for inside the 20-yard line.

Next, let’s look at what players have incentives that are considered NLTBE, and what the player can earn in total.

QB Sam Darnold

He gets $300,000 for each game he plays 25% of the 49ers offensive snaps, and the 49ers win that game, a total of $5.1 million

He gets $1 million for playing 50% of the regular season offensive snaps, and the 49ers make the playoffs

He gets $100,000 for each playoff game he plays 50% of the offensive snaps, a total of $400,000.

All in all, he can earn $6.5 million in incentives, with $1.8 million counting against the 2023 salary cap.

WR Deebo Samuel

He can get $650,000 for 380 or more rushing yards

He can also get $150,000 for 3 or more rushing touchdowns.

In total he can earn a max of $650,000 in incentives, with $150,000 currently counting against the 2023 salary cap.

WR Ray-Ray McCloud III

He can earn $500,000 for 46% or more offensive playtime, 40 or more catches, 400 or more receiving yards, and 200 or more rushing yards.

He can also earn $200,000 for being selected to the Pro Bowl.

All in all, he can earn $700,000 in incentives.

C Jake Brendel

He can earn $500,000 for an undisclosed percentage of offensive playtime.

LT Matt Pryor

He can earn $102,500 for 50.2% or more offensive playtime.

DE Clelin Ferrell

He can get $250,000 for hitting 50% to 79.9% in defensive snaps.

He can get an additional $250,000 if he hits 80% or more in defensive snaps.

If he gets 5-6.5 sacks, m he gets $100,000, he’ll get $150,000 for 7-10.5 sacks, and a $250,000 for 11 or more sacks, a total of $500,000.

He can also earn $500,000 for making the First Team All-Pro team.

In total, he has $1.5 million in incentives.

DT Kevin Givens

He can earn $100,000 for an undisclosed percentage of defensive playtime.

WLB Dre Greenlaw

He can earn $500,000 if he’s named to the Pro Bowl.

SLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles

He can earn $500,000 for an undisclosed percentage of defensive playtime.

CB Charvarius Ward

He can earn $250,000 for being named to the Pro Bowl.

He can also earn another $250,000 if he’s named 1st or 2nd team All-Pro.

All in all, he can earn $500,000 in incentives.

FS Tashaun Gipson Sr.

He can earn $300,000 for a combination of stats, & being named to the Pro Bowl.

SS George Odum

He has an undisclosed amount for various triggers, but we do know that $250,000 counts against the 2023 salary cap for him being named to the 2nd Team All-Pro last season.

P Mitch Wishnowsky

He can earn $450,000 for various different triggers, with $100,000 of it counting against the 2023 salary cap.

Projected starting right tackle Colton McKivitz also has incentives in his deal, but those are unknown at this time for the amount or trigger.

Next, let’s look at what kind of adjustments/credits the 49ers can get back in 2024.

First off, the 49ers are projected to be $24,413,276 over the 2024 salary cap, which is projected to be $256 million, but that’s with just 42 players signed, so when they have enough players signed to get to the top 51 rule, they’d be $31,668,276 over, so any amount will help greatly.

Before I go over what the 49ers can get back in 2024, let’s look at the 42 players signed for 2024, with their cap number.

1. LT 71 Trent Williams(2026)- $31,656,777
2. DT 91 Arik Armstead(2024)- $28,573,824
3. WR 19 Deebo Samuel(2025)- $28,572,000
4. MLB 54 Fred Warner(2026)- $24,469,000
5. TE 85 George Kittle(2025)- $21,986,575
6. CB 7 Charvarius Ward(2024)- $17,901,000
7. NT 98 Javon Hargrave(2026)- $15,475,000
8. DE 97 Nick Bosa(2028)- $14,671,000
9. RB 23 Christian McCaffrey(2025)- $14,144,000
10. WR 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2024)- $14,124,000
11. WLB 57 Dre Greenlaw(2024)- $9,632,382
12. FB 44 Kyle Juszczyk(2025)- $7,588,750
13. C 64 Jake Brendel(2026)- $4,192,000
14. CB 26 Isaiah Oliver(2024)- $3,866,000
15. P 18 Mitch Wishnowsky(2026)- $2,825,000
16. RT 68 Colton McKivitz(2024)- $2,536,000
17. LG 65 Aaron Banks(2024)- $2,250,694
18. SS 30 George Odum(2024)- $1,625,000
19. DE 95 Drake Jackson(2025)- $1,590,561
20. CB 20 Ambry Thomas(2024)- $1,425,154
21. RB 32 Tyrion Davis-Price(2025)- $1,393,240
22. WR 6 Danny Gray(2025)- $1,375,883
23. LS 46 Taybor Pepper(2025)- $1,300,000
24. FS 27 Ji’Ayir Brown(2026)- $1,243,108
25. PK 4 Jake Moody(2026)- $1,219,756
26. TE 81 Cameron Latu(2026)- $1,219,756
27. RG 74 Spencer Burford(2025)- $1,153,014
28. RT 76 Jaylon Moore(2024)- $1,135,759
29. CB 2 Deommodore Lenoir(2024)- $1,126,217
30. SS 29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024)- $1,115,038
31. RB 25 Elijah Mitchell(2024)- $1,100,893
32. CB 0 Samuel Womack III(2025)- $1,055,831
33. LG 63 Nick Zakelj(2025)- $1,032,590
34. NT 93 Kalia Davis(2025)- $1,018,003
35. QB 13 Brock Purdy(2025)- $1,004,253
36. CB 28 Darrell Luter Jr.(2026)- $997,555
37. RB 24 Jordan Mason(2024)- $988,334
38. DE 55 Robert Beal Jr.(2026)- $979,510
39. SLB 53 Dee Winters(2026)- $950,110
40. TE 9 Brayden Willis(2026)- $936,039
41. WR 10 Ronnie Bell(2026)- $935,482
42. SLB 50 Jalen Graham(2026)- $935,482

Now, let’s look at what the 49ers can get back in 2024.

First up are the veterans.

WR Chris Conley – The 49ers should get back all of the $400,000 that they gave out to Conley, as he was elevated for the teams’ week 3 game against the Giants, but thus far they’ll for sure get back $134,622.

WR Willie Snead IV – $250,000, The team, as long as Snead remains on the practice squad, will get back the $250,000, as his salary is $370,800, but thus far they’ll for sure get back $134,622.

DE Austin Bryant – $350,200 out of $550,000, and as of now, the 49ers will get back $ at least the $82,400.

DT T.Y. McGill Jr. – $370,800 out of $400,000, but if McGill, who is on the 49ers’ practice squad, gets elevated for gameday, then the 49ers should get back the entire $400,000, but as of now, they’ll get back for sure $103,000.

That’s a total of $1,402,622.

Next are UDFAs that were given guarantees in their base salaries.

FB Jack Colletto – $100,000, as of now Colletto has earned $60,000, and was just released off the 49ers’ practice squad to make room for Ilm Manning.

C Corey Luciano – $5,000, as of now Luciano has earned $60,000, but they’ll only get back $5,000 of it.

G Joey Fisher – $115,000, as of now Fisher has earned $60,000.

Luciano is on the 49ers practice squad, while Fisher is on the Steelers practice squad, so they would get back $180,000, for a total of $1,634,844 between veterans & UDFA base salary guarantee paybacks.

They also gave out the following to players not on their, or another teams’ practice squad.

RB Ronald Awatt – $5,000

RB Khalan Laborn – $30,000

WR Shae Wyatt – $35,000

DE Spencer Waege – $40,000

MLB Mariano Sori-Marin – $30,000

FS Avery Young – $10,000

That’s a total of $150,000, but right now they wouldn’t get back any of it since none are signed to a practice squad.

The team will also get back $8,971 for each game that Brandon Allen is the emergency 3^rd QB, as he has a $152,500 per game roster bonus, but the emergency 3^rd QB doesn’t get credit for a per game roster bonus game check.

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 $34,046,692 over with 42 players signed, and $41,201,692 over with 51 players signed, so the team will need to create cap room next year with the options to create cap room listed below.

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

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)

Now, let’s look at the teams’ pending free agents.

UFA:

QB Sam Darnold
QB Brandon Allen
WR/KR/PR Ray-Ray McCloud III
TE Ross Dwelley
TE Charlie Woerner
C Jon Feliciano
RT Matt Pryor
DE Clelin Ferrell
DE Kerry Hyder Jr.
DT Javon Kinlaw
DT Kevin Givens
WLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
SLB Oren Burks
CB Anthony Brown
FS Tashaun Gipson Sr.
PK Zane Gonzalez

RFA:

WR Jauan Jennings

Now, if the salary cap does come in at $256 million, the RFA tenders would look something like this, courtesy/credit to OverTheCap.com.

1^st-Round Tender: $6.838 million

2^nd-Round Tender: $4.901 million

Original Round Tender: $3.124 million

Right of First Refusal Tender: $2.992 million

The team has 1 RFA, Jauan Jennings, who will most likely get the 2nd-round tender, keeping him a 49er for 1 more year after 2023, before he becomes a UFA in 2025, where he’ll get paid a good amount by another team.

The team currently has $41,057,731 in cap room for 2023, and I project that they’d get $615,527 of the potential $1,532,500 in adjustments/credits from veteran base salary guarantees, UDFA guarantees, and Brandon Allen’s per game roster bonus.

The team might also get back Sam Darnold’s $1.8 million LTBE incentives if he doesn’t start or play in any games, & achieving the required game snap percentage, along with Jon Feliciano’s $1 million LTBE if Feliciano doesn’t play as well, depending on the percentage of snaps, which isn’t known at this time.

But for now, I won’t factor in the LTBEs or NLTBEs mentioned earlier in this article when it comes to projected cap room for the 49ers.

Now, if for some reason the 49ers can indeed carryover the $41.588 million, which is unlikely, as in season roster moves will be made, & injuries will happen, plus projected adjustments, the team would have $17,159,982 in cap room with 42 players signed, or $10,004,982 with 51 players signed, but when factoring in the escalators for Mitchell, Banks, Lenoir, & Hufanga, they’d be $7,626,566 under with 42 players signed, or $471,566 with 51 players signed.

So, the team wouldn’t need to make many restructures, but again the likelihood of the team carrying over the entire $41,057,731 is unlikely, but I do expect them to carryover at least $35 million, with the other $6 million being used on in season roster moves, either practice squad elevations, or injury replacements, practice squad moves, etc….

Now, if the 49ers are indeed over the 2024 salary cap, even with carryover, & adjustments, I’d expect the team to restructure Deebo Samuel’s contract, saving $15,877,600, and look to extend Arik Armstead, Dre Greenlaw, & Charvarius Ward, which could save the team $27.668 million total, which, with Samuel’s restructure, would be over $43 million in cap savings, so the 2024 49ers will have a good amount of salary cap room, while also being able to extend the likes of Brandon Aiyuk, Talanoa Hufanga, Aaron Banks, & Deommodore Lenoir, and keep the teams current core players on big money deals.

And that’s the 2023 & 2024 salary cap situations, post cut down day, as always, thank you for reading, you can 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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