© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
We’re about a month away from being hit with NFL free agency, and with limited cap space after a brutal financial year for the league, the 49ers are going to have to get clever. We’ve already broken down how the 49ers could clear some significant space here, but if they do sign Trent Williams, especially if there’s not a first-year discount, they’ll be playing with pennies.
In that article, I lay out a scenario of re-signing Williams, Jason Verrett, Emmanuel Moseley, extending Fred Warner and Laken Tomlinson and re-signing a handful of minimum-level free agents while making a few simple cap maneuvers like restructures and roster cuts. If Dee Ford’s injury guarantee doesn’t get in the way of cutting him, there’s roughly another $5 million the team can save.
Under that projection, without cutting Ford as a viable option, I’m operating with an estimate that the 49ers will have roughly $5 million to spend on other free agents without touching Jimmy Garoppolo’s contract. He only has $1.4 million guaranteed this year and $1.4 million next year, meaning they can restructure his deal to save upwards of $11 million.
While the team has shown a desire to leave that money untouched in case they do cut Garoppolo, the cap will almost certainly rise in 2022 and opening up room now at the expense of next year may be a preferable way to operate than shopping at the bargain bin.
Running back, fullback and linebacker were left out because there is either sufficient depth at those positions, or any signings are likely to rookie undrafted free agents. Tackle was left unaddressed because the expectation is for Trent Williams to return with Mike McGlinchey, and for Justin Skule to compete against Shon Coleman (COVID-19 opt-out) this season for the swing tackle spot. There will probably be minimum free agents brought in, too.
Quarterback
Dak Prescott
The franchise tag for Prescott will be set at $37.7 million and the latest reporting from ESPN’s Dan Graziano is that the Cowboys, who don’t appear likely to sign Prescott to a long-term extension, will tag him. But it’s 2021. The salary cap is dropping massively. Dallas currently has a projected $18 million in cap space per OverTheCap but Prescott would cost twice that.
It’s unlikely, but not inconceivable that he hits the market, especially coming off a brutal ankle dislocation. If he’s available and healthy, he’s a clear upgrade over Jimmy Garoppolo, and the 49ers could clear $23.6 million by cutting Garoppolo.
Joe Flacco
A real sexy option, I know. But Flacco, at age 36, could provide a valuable veteran in the quarterback room for Jimmy Garoppolo (or a rookie quarterback) and Josh Rosen to learn from. He worked with quarterbacks coach Rich Scanagarello, then the offensive coordinator in Denver, so he’s familiar with the offense, and would be a cheap, not-the-worst-in-the-world backup option.
Tight End
The blocking situation behind George Kittle was rough last season. The 49ers desperately need to add someone with a plus skill; either a bona fide blocker or receiver. Jordan Reed could potentially provide that if he sticks around, but it’s hard to bet on him remaining healthy. He and Kittle almost never saw the field at the same time last season.
MyCole Pruitt
The Titans are already projected to be roughly $3 million over the salary cap and have Jonnu Smith expiring, too. They might not be able to bring back both tight ends, and the 49ers could desperately use someone to ease the burden off George Kittle’s shoulders, one of which has been torn for the last two seasons. Pruitt is an excellent run blocker, and should be relatively affordable, in the $2-3 million range, which could allow for some load management for Kittle.
Chris Manhertz
Similar to Pruitt, Manhertz is an excellent run blocker. He’s probably a lower profile guy, too, and came from a Carolina Panthers team that used Curtis Samuel in much the same way that the 49ers use Deebo Samuel; motioned in, out, orbit motion, direct handoffs. There are a lot of similarities in what Carolina does and the logic, again, is to provide another blocking tight end. Ross Dwelley clearly struggles as a blocker and Charlie Woerner, who came in as a blocking prospect, was bullied last season.
Wide receiver
What you’re looking for here is someone who offers similar productivity to Kendrick Bourne, but at a cost of less than the roughly $5 million Bourne may cost; you’re also looking for cheap returners. The former may be difficult, and a mid-round swing at a receiver in the third-through-fifth rounds seems like it could be in the cards. Bourne may well re-sign with the 49ers, but there are multiple other teams more desperate for receiving help with more cap space than San Francisco. There are plenty of enticing options on the market, like Curtis Samuel, Keelan Cole, even Willie Snead, but it’s difficult to see the 49ers spending their limited cap space at receiver.
Zay Jones
The former second-rounder has not had a productive NFL career. But the athletic upside is there, and he is a stellar run blocker, a necessity in the Shanahan offense. He had one enticing season in Buffalo his second year in the league (56 receptions, 652 yards, 7 touchdowns). The 49ers absolutely love to swing on high athletic upside players, and Jones, with ridiculous measurables, would absolutely be worth a cheap, minimum-ish swing. At worst, he’s a capable run blocker who you can use on special teams.
John Ross
Ross has not had much success in his young career, but young is the key word. He’s still 26, with absolute burner speed. On a 49ers team with no returner they can rely on except one they’d prefer not to, in Brandon Aiyuk, the special teams upside of Ross is definitely worth a one-year flier. He should come in roughly around the NFL minimum. If he doesn’t, you don’t sign him. But the speed upside is worth taking a cheap swing on.
Tyrell Williams
Williams was just cut from the Raiders and there will surely be other teams to outbid the 49ers. Many receivers who fit the mold and might not even be prohibitively expensive, like Rashard Higgins or Byron Pringle were left off this list because they were either restricted free agents, and/or on teams that value them and have equal or greater cap space than the 49ers. Williams’ torn labrum, though, might scare off some buyers, and the 49ers are a team which is almost too eager to take swings on reclamation projects. Williams is a monstrous, domineering slot receiver at 6’4″ and if healthy, would instantly raise the ceiling of the offense.
Interior offensive line
This team needs a center or a guard, but preferably a center. Weston Richburg is very likely gone, and I’m not sure anyone is sold on Daniel Brunskill as the future of the position. He’s at least a depth piece, but he should probably be competing with Colton McKivitz for the starting right guard job. Luckily, there’s an enticing market for centers with some familiar names.
Alex Mack
Mack, at 36, is still a premier center. He worked with Shanahan in Atlanta and at that age, he might want to go ring-chasing with a familiar, competent face. There’s obviously the risk that the 49ers could be outbid, or won’t have the space, but he’s the type of guy it’s worth to restructure a chunk of Jimmy Garoppolo’s deal for. If you can bring him in for less than $6 million per year, that’s a coup. And the Falcons, projected to be more than $31 million over the cap, don’t look like they’ll have the money to sign him.
Corey Linsley
Linsley, 30, is the other top center on the market (Maurkice Pouncey is up there, too). He just finished a season running the Kyle Shanahan scheme in Green Bay and he did so while coached by Butch Barry, the man the 49ers just hired to take now offensive line coach Chris Foerster’s job as assistant offensive line coach. That level of familiarity and that age make Linsley the most enticing center option for the 49ers.
The question is money, obviously. Green Bay is currently projected at more than $28 million over the cap and can only open up room to re-sign Linsley by fully restructuring Aaron Rodgers’ deal. That’s not out of the question, but it doesn’t seem exceedingly likely with them having just drafted Jordan Love as his successor. While the 49ers were burned spending big money on a center in Richburg, Linsley, in a bad year for free agents and on the other side of 30, will be expensive, but may be closer to the $8 million a year range in year one. He’s not a likely option, but there’s a route for the 49ers to clear the space to make a move for him.
Austin Blythe
Blythe, 29, is coming off an impressive year with the Rams, and just like the two prior names, from a team which is struggling against salary cap restrictions. The Rams are projected to be more than $26 million over the cap. Under Sean McVay, Blythe effectively ran the same scheme as Kyle Shanahan’s. He’s going to be cheaper than Linsley, but has shown he’s an above-average center with encouraging run-blocking athleticism.
EDGE
Most of these options proceed under the notion that the 49ers will re-sign Trent Williams, but if they don’t, the premier options, like Yannick Ngakoue, Matt Judon and Shaq Barrett could be viable signings. There is another tier below that, too, in players like Trey Hendrickson, Romeo Okwara, Haason Reddick and Everson Griffen. Below them, there are question marks like Dennis Gardeck and Nate Gerry, whose market values are totally unclear. The 49ers’ likely targets are older, safer, productive players.
Ryan Kerrigan
Kerrigan, at age 33, might want to play for a contender and reunite with Kyle Shanahan and Trent Williams (Jordan Reed, too, if he sticks around). He wouldn’t have to take on an every-down role, and could be employed as a specialist pass rusher like Dee Ford was on third downs. He’s not expected to be exceedingly expensive given the wear and tear and persistent injury problems he’s dealt with in recent years.
Steven Means
Means played 59 percent of the Falcons’ snaps on defense last year, finishing with 3.0 sacks, a pair of forced fumbles and career-highs of 38 tackles and 6 QB hits. He played with defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans in Ryans’ last season in Philadelphia, where secondary coach Jeff Undlin also coached. He’s a decent veteran option who is going to provide you capability on the edge.
Charles Harris
Harris might be the most enticing, sneaky upside play here. He played with Means in Atlanta last year and was similarly effective in a limited role on just 27 percent of snaps, picking up 3.0 sacks and 5 QB hits. He was former 22nd overall pick back in 2016 by Dolphins, where he played under defensive line coach Kris Kocurek in 2018. He’ll turn just 26 this year, and with that former first round pedigree with limited production as a former Kocurek player, it would be surprising to see the 49ers not take a flier on him if he’s available around the league minimum.
Defensive tackle
We’re not looking for splashy names here. Just familiar faces who are capable, reliable, and get the occasional pressure.
Mario Edwards Jr.
Edwards has played mostly as a 3-4 defensive end, which projects well for a 3-technique. He’s a former high second-rounder drafted in 2015 by the Raiders. Despite being a five-year veteran, he’s still just 27 and spent two years under former Giants defensive coordinator, and now 49ers defensive assistant/run game specialist James Bettcher. Edwards put up 4.0 sacks in that 3-4 end role with the Bears last season, and might cost similar to D.J. Jones, in the $3-4 million range. Edwards, though, has a far better health record than Jones, who, despite massive upside and talent, can’t stay on the field.
Caraun Reid
Reid 29, is a replacement-level player who would come in on the minimum. He played under Kocurek for three total years in Detroit, so you’re betting on that familiarity getting the best out of him to provide some capable depth.
Jeremiah Ledbetter
The recent Super Bowl winner, like Reid, is nothing exciting, and only played 54 snaps last season. But, he spent 2017 with Kocurek and is still 26 (turning 27). He’s someone who you bring in for camp on the minimum to see what’s there.
Defensive back
There are myriad names here given all the young, expiring talent in Philadelphia and the fact that the Eagles have the second-worst cap situation in the league. Cory Undlin’s familiarity in Philadelphia, having coached there for four years, and Rich Scangarello spending last year inside the organization, would point towards some former Undlin-era Eagles signing with the 49ers. Rather than breaking each down, they’ll be separated into tiers.
- Probably too expensive: Ronald Darby (CB, Age 27, 2nd round pick in ’15, started all 16 games for WAS, had 16 PBU), Jalen Mills (CB/S, Age 27, converted to SS last season, started all 16 games for PHI, had 1 INT, 3 PBU), Duron Harmon (S, Age 30, 3rd round pick in ’13, started all 16 games for DET, had 2 INT, 5 PBU)
- Sweet spot: Rasul Douglas (CB, Age 26, 3rd round pick in ’15, started 11 games for CAR, had 9 PBU), Sidney Jones (CB, Age 25, 2nd round pick in ’17, started six games for JAX, had 2 INT, 9 PBU), Chandon Sullivan (RFA – CB, Age 25, started 10 games for GB, had 1 INT, 9 PBU)
- Bargain Bin: De’Vante Bausby (CB, Age 28), Josh Hawkins, Cre’Von LeBlanc (CB, Age 26), Mike Ford (CB, Age 26)
