With the latest developments with Sam Darnold being named QB2, and the 49ers will explore trade options for Trey Lance, it\u2019s time for my latest 53-man roster projection, with practice squad, injured lists, and 2023 & 2024 salary cap implications.<\/p>\n
The team has the following 93 players signed, with their cap numbers listed.<\/p>\n
Now, my updated roster projection.<\/p>\n
OFFENSE:<\/strong><\/p>\n QB(3): 13 Brock Purdy(2025), 14 Sam Darnold(2023), & 4 Brandon Allen(2023)<\/p>\n RB(4): 23 Christian McCaffrey(2025), 25 Elijah Mitchell(2024), 32 Tyrion Davis-Price(2025), & 24 Jordan Mason(2024)<\/p>\n FB(1): 44 Kyle Juszcyzk(2025)<\/p>\n WR(5): 19 Deebo Samuel(2025), 11 Brandon Aiyuk(2024), 15 Jauan Jennings(2023), 3 Ray-Ray McCloud III(2023) & 10 Ronnie Bell(2026)<\/p>\n TE(4): 85 George Kittle(2025), 82 Ross Dwelley(2023), 81 Cameron Latu(2026), & 9 Brayden Willis(2026)<\/p>\n C(2): 64 Jake Brendel(2026), & 55 Jon Feliciano(2023)<\/p>\n LG(2): 65 Aaron Banks(2024), & 60 Ilm Manning(2025)<\/p>\n RG(1): 74 Spencer Burford(2025)<\/p>\n LT(2): 71 Trent Williams(2026), & 76 Jaylon Moore(2024)<\/p>\n RT(1): 68 Colton McKivitz(2024)<\/p>\n DEFENSE:<\/strong><\/p>\n DE54): 97 Nick Bosa(2023), 95 Drake Jackson(2025), 94 Clelin Ferrell(2023), 92 Kerry Hyder Jr.(2023), & 56 Austin Bryant(2023)<\/p>\n DT(3): 91 Arik Armstead(2024), 99 Javon Kinlaw(2023), & 90 Kevin Givens(2023)<\/p>\n NT(2): 98 Javon Hargrave(2026), & 96 T.Y. McGill Jr.(2023)<\/p>\n WLB(1): 57 Dre Greenlaw(2024)<\/p>\n MLB(2): 54 Fred Warner(2026), & 50 Jalen Graham(2026)<\/p>\n SLB(2): 48 Oren Burks(2023), & 53 Dee Winters(2026)<\/p>\n 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\u2019Shawn Jamison(2025)<\/p>\n FS(2): 31 Tashaun Gipson Sr.(2023), & 27 Ji\u2019Ayir Brown(2026)<\/p>\n SS(2): 29 Talanoa Hufanga(2024), & 30 George Odum(2024)<\/p>\n SPECIAL TEAMS:<\/strong><\/p>\n PK(1): 4 Jake Moody(2026)<\/p>\n P(1): 18 Mitch Wishnowsky(2026)<\/p>\n LS(1): 46 Taybor Pepper(2025)<\/p>\n PUP:<\/strong><\/p>\n CB 28 Darrell Luter Jr.(2026)- Bone Bruise<\/p>\n IR:<\/strong><\/p>\n WR 6 Danny Gray(2025)- AC Joint Sprain (Short Term IR)<\/p>\n DE 55 Robert Beal Jr.(2026)- Unknown Minor Injury (Short Term IR)<\/p>\n NT 93 Kalia Davis(2025)- Unknown Minor Injury (Short Term IR)<\/p>\n PRACTICE SQUAD:<\/strong><\/p>\n For the 49ers 2023 salary cap, they would have $207,.986,802 in committed salaries for 74 players, with another $27,960,599 in dead money, a total cap commitment of $235,947,401 putting them $1,572,867 under their $237,520,268 adjusted salary cap for 2022, but this is before Nick Bosa\u2019s pending extension, which I expect the team to use a $35 million signing bonus, which would lower Bosa\u2019s cap hit by $9.779 million, putting the team $11,351,867 under, but this does include split salaries for Luter, Beal, & Davis, so they should get less for the weeks they\u2019re out.<\/p>\n 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 $262,681,391, plus $7,305,807 in dead money, for a total commitment of $269,987,198, putting them $13,987,198 over the projected 2024 salary cap of $256 million, with 43 players signed, and with 51 signed, they\u2019d be $20,347,198 over that $256 million number.<\/p>\n 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 2nd<\/sup>-round RFA tender level, which would be $4.901 million.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s an extra $9,533,416 added to team commitments, putting them $23,520,614 over with 43 players signed, and $29,880,614 over with 51 players signed.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n RB Christian McCaffrey \u2013 $8,472,000 (Restructure)<\/p>\n FB Kyle Juszcyzk \u2013 $3,632,000 (Restructure)<\/p>\n WR Deebo Samuel \u2013 $15,877,600 (Restructure)<\/p>\n TE George Kittle \u2013 $9,752,000 (Restructure)<\/p>\n LT Trent Williams \u2013 $15,072,000 (Restructure)<\/p>\n DT Arik Armstead \u2013 $12,960,000 (Extension or Restructure)<\/p>\n NT Javon Hargrave \u2013 $6,140,000 (Restructure)<\/p>\n MLB Fred Warner \u2013 $11,340,000 (Restructure)<\/p>\n WLB Dre Greenlaw \u2013 $5,580,000 (Extension or Restructure)<\/p>\n CB Charvarius Ward \u2013 $9,148,000 (Extension or Restructure)<\/p>\n 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\u2019s deal, saving the team $15,877,600, for a total of $43,565,600, putting the 49ers $20,044,986 under with 43 players signed, or $13,684,986 under with 51 players signed.<\/p>\n Of course, this doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n Veterans on the practice squad.<\/p>\n WR Willie Snead IV \u2013 $250,000<\/p>\n WR Chris Conley – $370,800 of $400,000<\/p>\n That\u2019s a total of $620,800.<\/p>\n As for UDFAs on the practice squad.<\/p>\n FB Jack Colletto \u2013 $100,000<\/p>\n G Joey Fisher \u2013 $115,000<\/p>\n DE Spencer Waege – $40,000<\/p>\n That\u2019s $255,000, added to the $620,800, for a total of $875,800.<\/p>\n So, if we add the $875,800 adjustments to the $4 million projected carryover, that\u2019s an additional $5,875,800 in cap room, putting the team $25,920,786 under with 43 players signed, and $19,560,786 with 51 players signed.<\/p>\n Now, the team will most definitely tender wide receiver Jauan Jennings at the 2nd<\/sup>-round RFA level, which would be $4.901 million, putting the team $21,814,786 with 44 players signed, or $14,659,786 with 51 players signed.<\/p>\n I also didn\u2019t mention any incentives that currently count against the 2023 salary cap, or incentives that don\u2019t 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\u2019d 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\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n With that said, I think I\u2019ll 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n Now, this is where I remind people to not worry about 2024, and just enjoy the 2023 season, as we\u2019re just a few weeks away from the 49ers opening the 2023 season at Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n\n