With the 49ers making a blockbuster trade last week to bring in running back Christian McCaffrey, I want to delve deeper into 2023, and determine what free agents the 49ers realistically can afford to bring back, both short term, & long term.<\/p>\n
Before we go into the free agents, we must begin with what the 49ers currently have for 2023, which is 33 players signed, with a projected $8,713,077 in cap room, but that\u2019s with just 33 players signed, so when they have enough players signed to get to the top 51 rule, they\u2019d be $4,786,923 over the cap, and this is with a projected $225 million cap for 2023.<\/p>\n
Below are the 33 players signed, with their current cap number for 2023.<\/p>\n
Now, let\u2019s look at the teams\u2019 pending free agents.<\/p>\n
UFA:<\/strong><\/p>\n RB Jeff Wilson Jr. RFA:<\/strong><\/p>\n LT Colton McKivitz ERFA:<\/strong><\/p>\n WR Jauan Jennings The 49ers will likely tender all of their RFAs, & ERFAs, which would be $2.625 million for both Givens, & Flannigan-Fowles, each, $2.745 million for McKivitz, & $940,000 for Jennings, Hance, & Robinson, which would put the team $2,219,570 over with just 39 players signed, and with 51 players signed, they\u2019d be $11,219,570 over.<\/p>\n The 49ers should get back a good amount of credits, in forms of adjustments, which I went over Wednesday<\/a>, which would be around $3,705,143, which would put the 49ers $1,603,220 under a $225 million salary cap, but that\u2019s with just 39 players signed\/tendered, and with 51 players, they\u2019d be $7,396,780 over the 2023 cap, and this is also before carryover, which could be in the $2 million range, which would put the 49ers $3,603,220 under with 39 players, or $5,896,780 over with 51 players, so the team will have to do some contract restructuring so they have some cap room to retain or replace free agents.<\/p>\n The 49ers best options for restructures are below.<\/p>\n RB Christian McCaffrey – $8.576 million max, $7,146,666 minimum<\/p>\n TE George Kittle \u2013 $8.456 million max, $7,927,500 minimum<\/p>\n LT Trent Williams \u2013 $14.588 million max, $13,676,250 minimum<\/p>\n DT Arik Armstead \u2013 $11.78 million max, $11,043,750 minimum<\/p>\n MLB Fred Warner \u2013 $9.476 million max, $8,883,750 minimum<\/p>\n I think it\u2019s obvious that the 49ers will rework McCaffrey\u2019s deal, as the $12 million cap number just isn\u2019t feasible for 2023, and they\u2019ll likely restructure Trent Williams, & Fred Warner\u2019s deal, which would save the team a total of $32.64 million in cap room, which would put the 49ers $27,243,220 under the 2023 cap., but this is with 51 players signed.<\/p>\n Now, having over $27.243 million is a lot of salary cap room, but it doesn\u2019t mean the 49ers can, or should bring back every free agent, as they have to be careful not to mess up their 2024 salary cap, and beyond, so they\u2019ll likely have to pick & choose who they want to bring back.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s look at each of the teams\u2019 pending UFAs, and determine if they\u2019re really someone the 49ers would bring back in 2023, either short term, or in the long term.<\/p>\n RB Jeff Wilson Jr. \u2013 Right now, Wilson leads the team in rushing with 88 carries, 454 rushing yards, & 2 rushing touchdowns, and he\u2019s been a breath of fresh air since the Elijah Mitchell injury, he hits the holes, and is explosive, so he\u2019s a player I see the 49ers attempting to re-sign in the offseason, likely in the $2.5 million a year range.<\/p>\n TE Ross Dwelley \u2013 Dwelley hasn\u2019t really been that great of a player, he\u2019s been good for being an undrafted free agent, but nothing mind blowing, or explosive, so he\u2019s someone I think the 49ers should let walk, as they need to upgrade at the #2 TE spot.<\/p>\n TE Tyler Kroft \u2013 Kroft, like Dwelley, is a player that hasn\u2019t done much, he was injured early in the season, and hasn\u2019t been active since then, but he\u2019ll get his opportunity this weekend if Kyle Juszcyzk is indeed out, but he\u2019s a player that the 49ers can probably bring back on a veteran minimum deal.<\/p>\n TE Jordan Matthews \u2013 Matthews tore his ACL early during training camp, and I just don\u2019t see how Matthews is that much of an upgrade over Dwelley, Kroft, or Charlie Woerner, so he likely is let go, or only gets a veteran minimum deal.<\/p>\n C Jake Brendel \u2013 Brendel has been pretty good this season, and is a player I believe can be had back on a veteran minimum salary benefit deal, where he gets $1.08 million, but only $940,000 counts against the cap, along with up to $152,500 in bonus money.<\/p>\n C\/RG Daniel Brunskill \u2013 I think the team is high on Brunskill, and while he has played well, both this season, and in the past, I don\u2019t know if the 49ers bring him back, as he might get more attention on the open market, likely in the $3 million a year or more range, something I doubt the 49ers will want to pay for what is basically a utility offensive lineman, but I would bring Brunskill back.<\/p>\n RT Mike McGlinchey \u2013 McGlinchey was having his best season in 2021 before a season-ending injury, and so far he hasn\u2019t looked bad, or great, he seems to be an average right tackle, good in run blocking, poor in pass blocking, and I think he gets in the $15 million or more a year range, something the 49ers likely won\u2019t want to pay him, not when they\u2019re paying Trent Williams $23.01 million on average per year.<\/p>\n DE Jordan Willis \u2013 Willis has yet to play this season, and is still on injured reserve, so as of now, I doubt Willis would command a lot of money, and he can probably be had for the veteran minimum, that\u2019s if the 49ers want Willis back.<\/p>\n DE Samson Ebukam \u2013 Ebukam has played well this year, with 3.5 sacks on the season, but right now is dealing with an achilles injury issue, but hopefully it\u2019s not something that would linger on, so he\u2019s someone I would try my best to bring back, and I think he can get somewhere in the $10 million to $12 million a year.<\/p>\n DE Kerry Hyder Jr. \u2013 Hyder signed a 1-year deal, worth $1.5 million after being released by the Seahawks in the offseason, and he\u2019s someone who has thrived under 49ers defensive line coach Kris Kocurek, and should be able to be had for $2.5 million a year, if the 49ers choose to bring back the versatile defensive lineman.<\/p>\n DE Charles Omenihu \u2013 Omenihu was acquired last season for a 2023 draft pick, and he\u2019s shown some real promise, as he\u2019s shown quickness, along with power, and has 3 sacks on the season, so I think the 49ers will want him back, somewhere in the $5 million a year range.<\/p>\n DE Kemoko Turay \u2013 Turay was given a 1-year deal, worth $1.6 million, but was cut at final cuts, but was signed to the teams\u2019 practice squad, later being signed to the 53-man roster, Turay showed some nice speed, and power in the preseason, so if the 49ers want Turay back, he should be able to be had for somewhere in the veteran minimum to $1.5 million range, likely on a 1 or 2-year deal.<\/p>\n DT Akeem Spence \u2013 Spence was signed off the teams\u2019 practice squad once Javon Kinlaw was placed on injured reserve, and he\u2019s been a good player, a nice role player, and if the 49ers want him back, he can likely be had for the veteran minimum.<\/p>\n DT Maurice Hurst Jr. \u2013 Hurst was re-signed to a 1-year deal, worth $945,000, but he had a season-ending injury, and is on injured reserve, and if the 49ers want him back, he\u2019ll have to take a straight veteran minimum deal, no bonuses, no incentives, nothing, just a 1-year deal, that counts just $940,000, and even that is a gamble, because if he gets hurt, especially for then season, that $940,000 becomes money that the 49ers can\u2019t use, so I\u2019d move on from him.<\/p>\n NT Hassan Ridgeway \u2013 Ridgeway has been very impressive thus far, he has 15 combined tackles, and 1 sack, he\u2019s shown nice quickness, and power, I think he can be had back on a 1-year, $2.5 million deal, & it would be money well spent.<\/p>\n SLB Azeez Al-Shaair \u2013 Al-Shaair is currently on injured reserve due to a sprained MCL, and I think it\u2019s obvious the 49ers made their choice between Al-Shaair, and Dre Greenlaw, when they gave Greenlaw a 2-year deal, averaging $8.5 million a year, but if the 49ers wanted to retain him, they\u2019re going to have to go beyond $5 million a year.<\/p>\n CB Emmanuel Moseley \u2013 Moseley unfortunately tore his ACL in the 49ers win in Carolina, and it\u2019s a shame, as he was having a breakout season, he was just a shutdown cornerback, and he was on his way to a nice payday, likely in the $13 million a year range, something I would still do, obviously with more injury guarantees, but I think he\u2019s going to have to take a 1-2 year deal, and hope to cash in during the 2024 offseason.<\/p>\n CB Jason Verrett \u2013 Verrett was just activated off of reserve\/PUP, so he hasn\u2019t played a game, yet, but we have no clue how far along he is from the torn ACL he suffered week 1 of the 2021 season, and honestly I don\u2019t know what Verrett can be had for, if he can play, he may be somewhere in the $5 million a year range, and if he doesn\u2019t play well, or just can\u2019t play, do you want him back? Even at the veteran minimum? That\u2019s something we\u2019ll soon find out, if\/when Verrett does indeed play, whether this week, or later this season.<\/p>\n FS Jimmie Ward \u2013 Ward, who is in the final year of a 3-year deal, that averages $9.5 million a year, has only played 2 games this season, and currently had a broken hand, but will likely be in uniform Sunday when the 49ers take on the Rams in LA, and his recent comments about being the slot cornerback, and a team player in his contract year, tells me that he\u2019s at least wanting to test free agency, which, if the 49ers want him back, they\u2019d be wise to do so before his deal voids, as it leaves $6.395 million in dead money, & essentially paying a player two cap hits in 1 season isn\u2019t smart business, so I expect him gone.<\/p>\n FS Tashaun Gipson Sr. \u2013 Gipson has been a very good player, maybe not the past 2 weeks, as he\u2019s had his chances at some INTs, but he\u2019s played well enough for me to consider Jimmie Ward to be expendable, and he could be had for a veteran minimum salary benefit deal, again where only $940,000 counts, and he can get up to $152,500 in bonuses.<\/p>\n FS Tarvarius Moore \u2013 Moore had a very good 2019, but since then, he\u2019s not been the same player he was, he was used at cornerback his rookie year, he didn\u2019t look like a good fit there, then in 2020 his production was down, and in 2021 he had a season-ending torn Achilles injury, so I\u2019d expect him to be a 1-year veteran minimum deal, or just let go of.<\/p>\n PK Robbie Gould \u2013 Gould has been good this season, and his entire career, & if he wants to play, & be back in San Francisco, then I see it happening, but he could sign back with his hometown Chicago Bears, leaving the 49ers needing a place kicker.<\/p>\n LS Taybor Pepper \u2013 Finally we have the teams\u2019 long snapper, who has been consistent, you don\u2019t hear his name much, which for a long snapper is usually a good thing, meaning he\u2019s doing good, and if had back, it\u2019d likely be a small 3-4 year deal, with a small signing bonus.<\/p>\n Well, there you have it, a breakdown of each of the teams\u2019 pending UFAs, whether they\u2019d bring them back, or not.<\/p>\n Basically, I don\u2019t see the 49ers bringing back the likes of Mike McGlinchey, Azeez Al-Shaair, & Jimmie Ward, but trying to bring back the likes of Samson Ebukam, Charles Omenihu, & Emmanuel Moseley.<\/p>\n If you want my perspective, please check out my current, but ever changing mock offseason plan for 2023, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nRB Tevin Coleman
\nTE Ross Dwelley
\nTE Tyler Kroft
\nTE Jordan Matthews
\nC Jake Brendel
\nC Daniel Brunskill
\nRT Mike McGlinchey
\nDE Jordan Willis
\nDE Samson Ebukam
\nDE Kerry Hyder Jr.
\nDE Charles Omenihu
\nDE Kemoko Turay
\nDT Akeem Spence
\nDT Maurice Hurst Jr.
\nNT Hassan Ridgeway
\nSLB Azeez Al-Shaair
\nCB Emmanuel Moseley
\nCB Jason Verrett
\nFS Jimmie Ward
\nFS Tashaun Gipson Sr.
\nFS Tarvarius Moore
\nPK Robbie Gould
\nLS Taybor Pepper<\/p>\n
\nDT Kevin Givens
\nSLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles<\/p>\n
\nRG Blake Hance
\nWLB Curtis Robinson<\/p>\n