Recently I went deeper into the 49ers 2020 salary cap and beyond, after the trade for Emmanuel Sanders, now is a great time to dive back in, now that the trade deadline is over.

At this moment, I have the 49ers at $12,723,862 under the 2019 salary cap, but again like I mentioned in my previous article, the 49ers will have to pay back roster bonuses to several players, all totaled it would cost the 49ers $2,612,500 in cap room.

Another thing is Richard Sherman’s $4 million in incentives, broken down as $1 million for making the pro bowl, $1 million for playing 90% of the defensive snaps, and $2 million for making the all pro team.

In this article, I’ll yet again outline, how we can retain our bigger name free agents in 2020, while still being able to extend a number of key players that I outlined in the last article.

I’ve identified eight players who are in line for new deals, and they are below.

FB Kyle Juszyzck

TE George Kittle

DE Arik Armstead

DE Ronald Blair III

DT DeForest Buckner

CB Richard Sherman

CB Ahkello Witherspoon

FS Jimmie Ward

With Juszyzck, Buckner, and Sherman, they can convert most of their base salaries in 2020, using the difference to their bonus structures.

With Kittle, Armstead, Blair, Witherspoon, and Ward, they will cost salary cap room, so the 49ers can create it by restructuring Jimmy Garoppolo’s deal.

By doing so, the 49ers would create $19.204 million in cap space; also, the 49ers will likely move on from Jerick McKinnon.

I also have the 49ers restructuring the contract of Dee Ford, which would create $10,747,500 in cap room.

I have the following average per year for the above eight players.

WR Emmanuel Sanders – $6 million

FB Kyle Juszyzck – $5 million

TE George Kittle – $12 million

DE Arik Armstead – $12 million

DE Ronald Blair III – $5 million

DT DeForest Buckner – $20 million

CB Richard Sherman – $9 million

CB Ahkello Witherspoon – $7 million

FS Jimmie Ward – $5 million

Now I doubt the 49ers will structure the deals where they have each year having the players APY counting against the cap. Instead, the 49ers will likely backload the deals into 2022 and beyond, when the 49ers have over $125 million in cap room in 2022 and over $211 million in 2023. These assume a $220 million cap for 2022 and a $230 million cap for 2023.

I have the 49ers signing Buckner, and Kittle to 5-year deals through 2025.

I have the 49ers signing Juszyzck, Witherspoon, Blair, Armstead to 4-year deals through 2024.

I have the 49ers signing Sherman, and Sanders to 3-year deals through 2023.

And I have the 49ers signing Ward to a 2-year deal through 2022.

I also have the 49ers tendering Matt Breida at the 2nd-round tender, which should be $3.278 million, while I also have them tendering exclusive rights free agents Nick Mullens, Jeff Wilson Jr., Ross Dwelley, Daniel Brunskill, and Emmanuel Moseley.

Mullens, Wilson, and Dwelley’s tenders would be for $660,000, while Brunskill and Moseley’s tenders would be for $585,000.

Mullens, Wilson, and Dwelley will be restricted free agents in 2021, but I’ve left them off my list as it’s a way to early and hard to project RFA tender amounts for 2021. The same goes for Moseley, and Brunskill, who would be RFAs in 2022.

As for key 2021 free agents, I have the 49ers re-signing Jaquiski Tartt to a 3-year deal, averaging $5 million a year, K’Waun Williams to a 3-year deal, averaging $3 million a year, Matt Breida to a 3-year deal, averaging $4.5 million a year, and Tevin Coleman to a 2-year deal, averaging $4.5 million a year.

I have the 49ers restructuring Jimmy Garoppolo’s deal again, and they would save over $18 million in salary-cap space.

I also have the 49ers restructuring Dee Ford’s deal, which would save the team over $10 million in salary-cap space.

Some other candidates for restructuring’s in 2020 are, Weston Richburg, Joe Staley, & Kwon Alexander. But hopefully the 49ers don’t have to restructure any of those deals.

But if the 49ers were to restructure these deals, the max savings are below.

Restructuring Richburg’s deal would save the team $4,606,666 in cap space, this is assuming they don’t extend Richburg’s deal, if they did the max savings would be $5.364 million, this assumes the 49ers add 2 years onto Richburg’s deal.

If the 49ers didn’t extend Richburg, it would add $1,893,333 to his cap numbers in 2021-2022, while extending Richburg through 2024 would add $1.136 million to his cap numbers.

Restructuring Staley’s deal would save the team $5,797,500 , but it would add $4,752,500 to his 2021 cap number. I don’t see Staley playing beyond 2021, since he’s currently 35 years old.

Restructuring Alexander’s deal would save the team $7,773,333 in cap space, but would add $3,476,666 to his cap numbers in 2021-2022.

With Emmanuel Sanders on the team, it looks like Marquise Goodwin’s time will be up very soon, as it would save the team $3.875 million in 2020, and $7.625 million in 2021 if cut or traded.

But I think there’s a possibility the 49ers hold onto Goodwin for at least 2020, possibly on a restructured deal.

Next is Jerick McKinnon, who has a $2.6 million guarantee, which is for injury, and fully on April 1, 2020.

If McKinnon is healthy, the 49ers would save around $3.89 million in cap space, if not healthy, they’d only save $1.29 million.

Now let’s get back to the salary cap in 2020, I expect the 49ers to get between $5 million, and $8 million in adjustments/credits. Which is extra cap space.

If the 49ers make the moves above, they would be left with $6,633,621in cap room for 2020, and only their 1st-round pick would count against the cap during the offseason, which is only the top 51 salaries, and of course dead money.

This would lock up Buckner, Armstead, Kittle, Sherman, Juszyczk, Witherspoon, and Blair on multi-year deals, while keeping their flexibility to add some veterans in free agency.

I don’t see them adding many, if any, big named free agents, but rather continue to build through the draft, this is also why any trade this season makes no sense, as it would deplete their cap room, and leave no carryover for 2020, making it impossible to keep their core together.

The only players who will cost cap space are Kittle, and Witherspoon, while they can convert most of Juszyczk, Buckner, and Sherman’s base salaries into the bonus structure.

Now it’s tough to determine what their cap hits would be, so I’ve left them at what they are, expect Sherman, I’ve added the $4 million incentives that are NLTBE, to LTBE, but the 49ers could save some money with any of these 3 deals.

I’ve also included salary escalations for Kittle, and Witherspoon in my current 2020 salary cap numbers for the PPE(Proven Performance Escalator), as they’ve played 35% of snaps in the first 2 seasons of their career.

As for overall structure, I’d expect them to somewhat front load Buckner, Witherspoon, and Kittle’s deals, while back loading the other deals.

The only other UFA I’d want back is TE Levine Toilolo, who would likely sign a 1-year veteran minimum deal, costing $750,000 against the cap.

Now in 2021 I have the 49ers restructuring the contracts of Jimmy Garoppolo, Dee Ford, and Kwon Alexander, which would $12,888,750 for Garoppolo, $5,960,834 for Ford, and $9.372 million for Alexander.

Below are the cap tables for 2020-2023, and again I expect the 49ers to backload the deals into 2022 and 2023 for those signing deals that run through those years.

2020 Table:

# Name Pos. Signed 2020 Cap Number 99 Buckner, DeForest DT 2026 $14,368,000 56 Alexander, Kwon WLB 2022 $12,725,000 91 Armstead, Arik DE/DT 2024 $12,000,000 85 Kittle, George TE 2025 $12,000,000 74 Staley, Joe LT 2021 $11,562,500 25 Sherman, Richard CB 2024 $10,050,000 94 Thomas, Solomon DE/DT 2020 $8,958,213 58 Richburg, Weston C 2022 $8,860,000 10 Garoppolo, Jimmy QB 2024 $8,224,000 97 Bosa, Nick DE/LEO 2022 $7,625,424 23 Witherspoon, Ahkello CB 2024 $7,000,000 55 Ford, Dee LEO 2023 $6,852,500 44 Juszczyk, Kyle FB 2024 $6,800,000 29 Tartt, Jaquiski SS 2020 $6,400,000 17 Sanders, Emmanuel WR 2022 $6,000,000 75 Tomlinson, Laken LG 2021 $5,250,000 9 Gould, Robbie PK 2022 $5,100,000 11 Goodwin, Marquise WR 2021 $5,062,500 69 McGlinchey, Mike RT 2021 $5,002,330 98 Blair III, Ronald LEO/DT 2024 $5,000,000 20 Ward, Jimmie FS/CB 2021 $5,000,000 26 Coleman, Tevin RB 2020 $4,900,000 22 Breida, Matt RB 2020 $3,278,000 31 Mostert, Raheem RB 2021 $3,208,333 24 Williams, K’Waun CB 2020 $3,200,000 68 Person, Mike RG 2021 $2,500,000 19 Samuel, Deebo WR 2022 $1,749,399 18 Pettis, Dante WR 2021 $1,745,608 53 Nzeocha, Mark SLB 2021 $1,500,000 3 Beathard, C.J. QB 2020 $1,122,751 54 Warner, Fred MLB 2021 $1,096,547 86 Nelson, Kyle LS/TE 2022 $975,000 14 Hurd, Jalen WR/TE 2022 $972,655 33 Moore, Tarvarius FS/CB 2021 $896,093 95 Street, Kentavius DE/NT 2021 $812,550 15 Taylor, Trent WR 2020 $785,487 6 Wishnowsky, Mitch P 2022 $776,018 93 Jones, D.J. NT 2020 $771,967 83 Toilolo, Levine TE 2020 $750,000 32 Reed Jr., D.J. CB/FS 2021 $737,843 77 Taylor, Jullian DT 2021 $684,511 13 James Jr., Richie WR 2021 $679,143 57 Greenlaw, Dre SLB 2022 $665,429 4 Mullens, Nick QB 2020 $660,000 30 Wilson Jr., Jeff RB 2020 $660,000 40 Tabor, Teez CB 2020 $660,000 47 Lee, Elijah SLB 2020 $660,000 82 Dwelley, Ross TE 2020 $660,000 36 Harris, Marcell SS 2020 $660,000 67 Skule, Justin RT/LT 2022 $629,887 51 Al-Shaair, Azeez MLB 2021 $590,000 41 Moseley, Emmanuel CB 2020 $585,000 60 Brunskill, Daniel LG 2020 $585,000 35 Harris Jr., Tim CB 2022 $549,577 1 Poindexter, Shawn WR 2021 $511,666 90 Givens, Kevin DT 2020 $510,000 45 Flannigan-Fowles, Demetrius SLB 2020 $510,000 76 Reynolds, Ross LG 2020 $510,000 43 Helm, Daniel TE 2020 $510,000 92 Valoaga, Jeremiah LEO 2020 $510,000 7 Burnett, Deontay WR 2020 $510,000 71 Jones-Smith, Jaryd LT 2020 $510,000

Total $214,620,931 Dead $4,298,772 Total and Dead $218,919,703 Top 51 Rule $214,329,703 2020 Cap $200,000,000 Cap Space $3,525,525 Effective Cap Room ($1,064,475) Projected Adjustments $8,000,000 2019 Carryover $9,855,228 2019 Carryover(Effective) $9,855,228 Players Signed 62 Players

Dead Money Amount Jerick McKinnon $4,000,000 Kaden Smith $150,086 Marcell Harris $83,150 Adrian Colbert $21,200 Malik Henry $10,000 Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles $8,334 Kevin Givens $8,000 Jamell Garcia-Williams $6,667 Tyree Mayfield $6,667 Wilton Speight $3,334 Ross Reynolds $1,334 Total $4,298,772

2021 Table:

# Name Pos. Signed 2021 Cap Number 99 Buckner, DeForest DT 2025 $20,000,000 10 Garoppolo, Jimmy QB 2024 $14,011,250 74 Staley, Joe LT 2021 $12,500,000 91 Armstead, Arik DE/DT 2024 $12,000,000 85 Kittle, George TE 2025 $12,000,000 55 Ford, Dee LEO 2023 $11,639,166 97 Bosa, Nick DE/LEO 2022 $9,150,509 25 Sherman, Richard CB 2022 $9,000,000 11 Goodwin, Marquise WR 2021 $7,625,000 23 Witherspoon, Ahkello CB 2024 $7,000,000 75 Tomlinson, Laken LG 2021 $6,250,000 17 Sanders, Emmanuel WR 2022 $6,000,000 69 McGlinchey, Mike RT 2021 $5,836,052 9 Gould, Robbie PK 2022 $5,250,000 56 Alexander, Kwon WLB 2025 $5,028,000 98 Blair III, Ronald LEO/DT 2024 $5,000,000 44 Juszyzck, Kyle FB 2024 $5,000,000 20 Ward, Jimmie FS/CB 2021 $5,000,000 29 Tartt, Jaquiski SS 2023 $5,000,000 58 Richburg, Weston C 2025 $4,598,000 22 Breida, Matt RB 2023 $4,500,000 26 Coleman, Tevin RB 2022 $4,500,000 31 Mostert, Raheem RB 2021 $3,508,334 4 Mullens, Nick QB 2021 $3,500,000 68 Person, Mike RG 2021 $3,000,000 24 Williams, K’Waun CB 2023 $3,000,000 19 Samuel, Deebo WR 2022 $2,099,279 18 Pettis, Dante WR 2021 $2,036,543 53 Nzeocha, Mark SLB 2021 $1,600,000 54 Warner, Fred MLB 2021 $1,234,547 14 Hurd, Jalen WR/TE 2022 $1,167,186 86 Nelson, Kyle LS/TE 2022 $1,045,000 33 Moore, Tarvarius FS/CB 2021 $980,093 95 Street, Kentavius DE/NT 2021 $902,550 6 Wishnowsky, Mitch P 2022 $866,018 32 Reed Jr., D.J. CB/FS 2021 $827,843 77 Taylor, Jullian DT 2021 $774,511 13 James Jr., Richie WR 2021 $769,143 57 Greenlaw, Dre SLB 2022 $755,429 67 Skule, Justin RT/LT 2022 $719,887 35 Harris Jr., Tim CB 2022 $714,577 51 Al-Shaair, Azeez MLB 2021 $680,000 1 Poindexter, Shawn WR 2021 $676,668 41 Moseley, Emmanuel CB 2021 $675,000 60 Brunskill, Daniel LG 2021 $675,000

Total $209,095,585 Dead $0 Total and Dead $209,095,585 2021 Cap $210,000,000 Cap Space $904,415 Effective Cap Room $904,415 Players under contract 45 Players

Total $209,095,585 Dead $0 Total and Dead $209,095,585 2021 Cap $210,000,000 Cap Space $904,415 Effective Cap Room $904,415 Players under contract 45 Players

2022 Table:

# Name Pos. Signed 2022 Cap Number 55 Ford, Dee LEO 2023 $26,954,166 99 Buckner, DeForest DT 2025 $20,000,000 10 Garoppolo, Jimmy QB 2026 $18,696,250 69 McGlinchey, Mike RT 2026 $13,500,000 54 Warner, Fred MLB 2026 $13,500,000 85 Kittle, George TE 2025 $12,000,000 91 Armstead, Arik DE/DT 2024 $12,000,000 97 Bosa, Nick DE/LEO 2022 $10,675,564 25 Sherman, Richard CB 2022 $9,000,000 56 Alexander, Kwon WLB 2025 $7,993,000 23 Witherspoon, Ahkello CB 2024 $7,000,000 58 Richburg, Weston C 2022 $6,563,000 17 Sanders, Emmanuel WR 2022 $6,000,000 75 Tomlinson, Laken LG 2024 $5,500,000 98 Blair III, Ronald LEO/DT 2024 $5,000,000 44 Juszyzck, Kyle FB 2024 $5,000,000 29 Tartt, Jaquiski SS 2023 $5,000,000 9 Gould, Robbie PK 2022 $4,750,000 22 Breida, Matt RB 2023 $4,500,000 26 Coleman, Tevin RB 2022 $4,500,000 24 Williams, K’Waun CB 2023 $3,000,000 68 Person, Mike RG 2024 $2,750,000 19 Samuel, Deebo WR 2022 $2,449,159 14 Hurd, Jalen WR/TE 2022 $1,361,717 86 Nelson, Kyle LS/TE 2022 $1,140,000 6 Wishnowsky, Mitch P 2022 $956,018 57 Greenlaw, Dre SLB 2022 $845,429 67 Skule, Justin RT/LT 2022 $809,887 35 Harris Jr., Tim CB 2022 $804,577

Total $212,248,767 Dead $0 Total and Dead $212,248,767 2022 Cap $220,000,000 Cap Space $7,751,233 Players under contract 29 Players

2023 Table:

# Name Pos. Signed 2023 Cap Number 10 Garoppolo, Jimmy QB 2026 $27,500,000 55 Ford, Dee LEO 2023 $26,576,666 99 Buckner, DeForest DT 2025 $20,000,000 97 Bosa, Nick DE/LEO 2027 $20,000,000 56 Alexander, Kwon WLB 2025 $13,500,000 54 Warner, Fred MLB 2025 $13,500,000 69 McGlinchey, Mike RT 2026 $13,500,000 85 Kittle, George TE 2025 $12,000,000 91 Armstead, Arik DE/DT 2024 $12,000,000 58 Richburg, Weston C 2025 $9,500,000 23 Witherspoon, Ahkello CB 2024 $7,000,000 75 Tomlinson, Laken LG 2024 $5,500,000 44 Juszyzck, Kyle FB 2024 $5,000,000 29 Tartt, Jaquiski SS 2023 $5,000,000 22 Breida, Matt RB 2023 $5,000,000 98 Blair III, Ronald LEO/DT 2024 $5,000,000 24 Williams, K’Waun CB 2023 $3,000,000 68 Person, Mike RG 2024 $2,750,000

Total $206,326,666 Dead $0 Total and Dead $206,326,666 2023 Cap $230,000,000 Cap Space $23,673,334 Players under contract 18 Players

And in 2021, the 49ers have several free agents, namely Solomon Thomas, D.J. Jones, C.J. Beathard, and Trent Taylor, while Jeff WIlson Jr., Ross Dwelley, would be restricted free agents, and Emmanuel Moseley would be a exclusive rights free agent again.

In 2021, I have the 49ers signing Mike McGlinchey to a 5-year deal, worth $13.5 million a year, Fred Warner to a 5-year deal, worth $13.5 million a year, Laken Tomlinson to a 3-year extension, worth $5.5 million a year, and Mike Person to a 3-year extension, worth $2.75 million a year.

I also have the 49ers tendering Nick Mullens with the 2nd-round tender, which I’ll project at $3.5 million.

Also in 2022, I have the 49ers restructuring the contracts of Jimmy Garoppolo, saving $8,303,750 in salary cap room, Kwon Alexander, saving $6.507 million, and I have the 49ers extending Weston Richburg to a 5-year deal, worth $9.5 million a year, also it would lower his salary cap number.

And then in 2022, I have the 49ers signing Nick Bosa to a 5-year deal, worth $20 million a year.

Key 2022 free agents would include, Dante Pettis, Tarvarius Moore, D.J. Reed Jr., Kentavius Street, Richie James Jr., Jullian Taylor, and Joe Staley.

One last thing to remember, these numbers are just their projected average per year, not their real cap numbers, I expect them to backload most of their deals, allowing them to have carryover, which I haven’t included.