Free agency is less than a month away. The 49ers will face a plethora of tough decisions going into this offseason.
While there aren’t any franchise cornerstones hitting the market, there are a number of key players who will likely sign elsewhere. San Francisco has roughly $8 million in cap space, and will have closer to $4 million when accounting for its rookie draft picks, of which there are 10.
There are a number of ways to create further cap space, most of which involve restructuring/extending players. Here’s a breakdown of how they could do that, and who on this list is likely to re-sign.
Below is the team’s full list of free agents.
Unrestricted free agents (can sign anywhere)
- LB Azeez Al-Shaair
- OL Jake Brendel
- OL Daniel Brunskill
- TE Ross Dwelley
- DL Samson Ebukam
- QB Jimmy Garoppolo
- S Tashaun Gipson Sr.
- K Robbie Gould
- DL Maurice Hurst
- DL Kerry Hyder Jr.
- QB Josh Johnson
- TE Tyler Kroft
- TE Jordan Matthews
- DL T.Y. McGill
- T Mike McGlinchey
- DB Tarvarius Moore
- CB Emmanuel Moseley
- DL Charles Omenihu
- LS Taybor Pepper
- DL Hassan Ridgeway
- CB Jason Verrett
- DB Jimmie Ward
- DL Jordan Willis
Restricted free agents
Restricted free agents can be retained at a premium cost, or treated the same as other free agents.
There are three levels of restricted free agent tenders, corresponding to the draft compensation a team would receive if a player signed elsewhere:
- First Round: $6,005,000
- Second Round: $4,304,000
- Right of First Refusal: $2,627,000
There are three 49ers players who are restricted free agents:
- LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
- DL Kevin Givens
- OL Colton McKivitz
Colton McKivitz and Kevin Givens could potentially be tendered at the last level, but the 49ers could also opt to let them hit free agency as normal and see what offers they get there if they don’t think a team will offer as much as that $2.63 million tag.
ERFAs
These aren’t free agents. These players have no agency. It’s like in baseball when a player has pre-arbitration status. The only way to free agency is if the team doesn’t want the player. The 49ers want Jennings. He’ll stick around for $940,000 next season.
- WR Jauan Jennings
