San Francisco 49ers: Updated Salary-Cap Breakdown at Start of Free Agency
Boy, that escalated quickly.
The face of the 2015 San Francisco 49ers has altered dramatically in just the past 72 hours. Three longtime staples have left the team. Frank Gore has said he’s signing with the Philadelphia Eagles, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Adam Caplan.
As expected, Justin Smith is retiring, as reported by CSNBayArea.com's Matt Maiocco. Per Maiocco's report, Pro Football Talk broke the news. As not expected, Patrick Willis is apparently joining him in retirement, despite being just 30 years old.
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In addition, there are rumors that Colin Kaepernick is on the trading block, as first reported by KBME SportsTalk 790’s Jayson Braddock and that the 49ers have agreed to sign Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun.
Add into that mix of headlines the restructuring of Aldon Smith’s contract, as well as the standard re-signings and extensions offered to players such as Michael Wilhoite and Tony Jerrod-Eddie and you have a vastly altered picture of the team from just 72 hours ago. Trent Baalke called this offseason a “reload situation” back in December, but it’s looking more and more like a rebuild situation.
With all that has happened, the 49ers' salary-cap situation has dramatically changed since we last looked at it back in February. It’s time to take another look at that situation and see what the 49ers can still do as free agency approaches.
OverTheCap.com now reports that the 49ers have almost $10.9 million in cap space, up from the $1.3 million they were projected to have back in February. This does not yet include the retirements of Willis or Smith, which will more than double that cap space, giving the 49ers $21.5 million to work with at this point.
All of a sudden, from one of the most cap-strapped teams in the NFL, the 49ers have joined the middle of the pack in terms of salary-cap space.
Some of that $21.5 million will go to that Torrey Smith deal, presuming it actually occurs—unlike some of the other big-ticket deals this offseason, this one has not been leaked yet, and could still fall apart. Just over $2 million more will be allocated to sign the class of 2015, according to OverTheCap.com.
In addition, there’s always the chance that either Justin Smith or Patrick Willis rethinks his retirement decisions; they’re both meeting with Trent Baalke, according to CSNBayArea.com’s Mindi Bach.
With all this uncertainty going around, we don’t know precisely the situation at each position, but I thought an overview would be helpful, anyway.
A quick terminology note before we continue. A player’s salary is split into a couple of sections.
- “Base salary” is what a player is scheduled to make in 2015 and is generally not guaranteed. That means a player can be cut and that money saved.
- “Prorated bonuses” refer to money received earlier but spread out over multiple seasons for salary-cap purposes. Normally, this comes in the form of a signing bonus. This money will continue to count against the cap even if the player is cut.
- “Other bonuses” include roster guarantees and workout bonuses. For example, Colin Kaepernick will receive $125,000 per game when he’s on the active roster for 2015. That money only becomes guaranteed when the games actually happen, so if he were cut, say, before the third game of the year, the 49ers would save the $1.75 million they otherwise would have had to pay him.
Quarterback
| Colin Kaepernick | $10,400,000 | $2,465,753 | $2,400,000 | $15,265,754 | $9,863,013 |
| Total | $10,400,000 | $2,465,753 | $2,400,000 | $15,265,754 | $9,863,013 |
There’s been no change at quarterback since February. The only reason to believe the rumors of potential trades for Colin Kaepernick is the “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” doctrine—the last time the 49ers strongly refuted trade rumors, it was about Jim Harbaugh last season, and while we’ll never know what happened there, there definitely was some tension between management and the coach there.
With no one else on the roster, any trade would have to bring another quarterback into play, but who would that be? Jay Cutler from Chicago? Nick Foles from Philadelphia? It just doesn’t seem to make any sense whatsoever at this point, unless the 49ers could somehow dump him for one of the top two picks in the 2015 draft—which seems nearly impossible.
If he has a poor season in 2015 he might well be gone after this season, but trading him without a young player already in place would be a disaster. You can’t put anything past the 49ers now, though.
Running Backs
| Bruce Miller | $1,100,000 | $446,500 | $200,000 | $1,746,500 | $1,339,500 |
| Carlos Hyde | $537,749 | $249,496 | $50,000 | $836,745 | $1,285,537 |
| Kendall Hunter | $660,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 | $735,000 | $50,000 |
| Trey Millard | $510,000 | $11,787 | $0 | $521,787 | $35,361 |
| Kendall Gaskins | $435,000 | $0 | $0 | $435,000 | $0 |
| Jarryd Hayne | $435,000 | $2,666 | $0 | $437,666 | $108,000 |
| TOTAL | $3,677,749 | $760,349 | $275,000 | $4,712,698 | $2,818,398 |
The only change here since February is the signing of Rugby League sensation Jarryd Hayne, a project who may or may not develop one day. He has never played football.
With Gore reportedly headed to Philadelphia, according to ESPN, the 49ers could really use a veteran running back to serve as a change of pace and relief for Carlos Hyde, as well as insurance in case Hyde doesn’t pan out.
The 49ers could target someone like ex-New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen or ex-San Diego Chargers back Ryan Mathews; both would fit into San Francisco’s new cap space and provide a receiving weapon out of the backfield.
Wide Receivers
| Anquan Boldin | $5,500,000 | $909,000 | $500,000 | $6,909,000 | $3,636,000 |
| Stevie Johnson | $5,500,000 | $0 | $525,000 | $6,025,000 | $0 |
| Jerome Simpson | $745,000 | $0 | $50,000 | $795,000 | $0 |
| Quinton Patton | $585,000 | $97,875 | $0 | $682,875 | $195,750 |
| Trindon Holliday | $660,000 | $0 | $0 | $660,000 | $0 |
| Bruce Ellington | $510,000 | $118,607 | $0 | $628,607 | $355,281 |
| Lance Lewis | $510,000 | $0 | $0 | $510,000 | $0 |
| Chuck Jacobs | $435,000 | $0 | $0 | $435,000 | $0 |
| TOTAL | $13,700,000 | $1,125,482 | $1,025,000 | $15,850,482 | $4,187,031 |
The one addition here is Jerome Simpson, a talented but troubled receiver who has played six seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings, putting together 145 career receptions for 2,004 yards. He missed all of 2014 when the Vikings released him due to a violation of the substance-abuse policy.
He’s a talented young player, but his off-field issues make him an interesting signing for a team that has dedicated itself to “winning with class,” as their owner put it. Two days ago, this was the biggest story for the 49ers this offseason. How quickly things change.
The Torrey Smith signing, assuming it goes through, bolsters the unit significantly—and perhaps means the end of Stevie Johnson’s tenure with the San Francisco 49ers. There’s no reason to pay a third receiver $6 million a season, and there is no dead money whatsoever if they release him.
That would open the third receiver slot for Bruce Ellington, Quinton Patton or an early draft pick. It makes too much sense not to happen, but we’ve said that about a lot of things this offseason.
Tight Ends
| Vernon Davis | $4,350,000 | $2,067,920 | $600,000 | $6,967,920 | $2,067,920 |
| Vance McDonald | $632,198 | $249,396 | $100,000 | $981,594 | $498,792 |
| Derek Carrier | $585,000 | $0 | $0 | $585,000 | $0 |
| Asante Cleveland | $510,000 | $0 | $0 | $510,000 | $0 |
| Xavier Grimble | $435,000 | $0 | $0 | $435,000 | $0 |
| Garrett Celek | $585,000 | ??? | ??? | ??? | ??? |
| TOTAL | $14,285,000 | $1,125,482 | $1,025,000 | $15,850,482 | $4,187,031 |
The 49ers have signed Derek Carrier to a two-year contract extension, according to Maiocco. It keeps him on the team through 2017 and is worth up to $3.3 million. We don’t know the precise contract figures for the deal at this point, but it seems like roughly a fair amount. The numbers in the table reflect his old deal, which should remain intact for 2015, according to reports.
The 49ers have also re-signed Garrett Celek to a one-year deal, per ESPN’s Adam Caplan. The $585,000 is a bit of a guess, as it’s the veterans minimum—it’s not from OverTheCap.com yet, as the details are not official. It should end up in that area, however.
The 49ers are unlikely to go out and add another tight end in free agency, but they may pick one up in the mid-rounds of the draft. They’ve made a commitment to bringing Vernon Davis back in 2015, and with the salary cap no longer a major issue, that’s more justifiable. Expect a mid-round pick to be used on a tight end, but the corps is relatively ready for 2015.
Offensive Line
| Joe Staley | $4,500,000 | $1,200,000 | $700,000 | $6,400,000 | $6,000,000 |
| Anthony Davis | $1,850,000 | $3,336,670 | $1,000,000 | $5,654,170 | $6,366,670 |
| Alex Boone | $3,400,000 | $340,000 | $50,000 | $3,740,000 | $340,000 |
| Daniel Kilgore | $800,000 | $337,500 | $800,000 | $1,875,000 | $1,012,500 |
| Jonathan Martin | $1,042,400 | $0 | $0 | $1,042,400 | $0 |
| Joe Looney | $660,000 | $106,301 | $0 | $766,301 | $106,301 |
| Marcus Martin | $525,000 | $167,813 | $20,000 | $712,813 | $503,439 |
| Brandon Thomas | $510,000 | $126,504 | $0 | $636,504 | $379,512 |
| Dillon Farrell | $510,000 | $1,666 | $0 | $511,666 | $3,334 |
| Andrew Tiller | $510,000 | $0 | $0 | $510,000 | $0 |
| Fouimalo Fonoti | $435,000 | $1,666 | $0 | $436,666 | $3,334 |
| Chris Martin | $435,000 | $0 | $0 | $435,000 | $0 |
| TOTAL | $15,177,400 | $5,618,120 | $2,620,000 | $23,415,520 | $14,715,090 |
There have been no changes to the offensive line since we last looked back in February.
Jonathan Martin’s role with the team no longer comes down to a matter of salary-cap implications, what with the 49ers’ new cap room. It’s now a matter of whether or not he’s actually good enough to stay at the swing tackle role, which is far from a guarantee. If he’s matched by a cheaper player in training camp, you could easily see him hitting the road for no cap penalty.
That added cap room might make some people wonder if the 49ers might target Mike Iupati once more, but it seems likely that the great demand for his services will end up with him going elsewhere.
The 49ers have options to replace him in house, with Brandon Thomas being drafted in the third round last season and the loser of the Marcus Martin versus Daniel Kilgore battle at center could also shift over there. Nothing has happened to change this.
Defensive Line
| Glenn Dorsey | $1,500,000 | $691,666 | $350,000 | $2,341,666 | $1,383,334 |
| Ian Williams | $1,000,000 | $333,334 | $250,000 | $1,495,834 | $333,334 |
| Tank Carradine | $804,789 | $494,578 | $50,000 | $1,349,367 | $989,156 |
| Corey Lemonier | $595,000 | $135,880 | $0 | $730,880 | $271,760 |
| Quinton Dial | $585,000 | $45,413 | $0 | $630,413 | $90,826 |
| Tony Jerod-Eddie | $585,000 | $0 | $0 | $585,000 | $0 |
| Kaleb Ramsey | $510,000 | $12,050 | $0 | $552,050 | $36,150 |
| Lawrence Okoye | $435,000 | $9,202 | $0 | $444,202 | $68,405 |
| Garrison Smith | $435,000 | $0 | $0 | $435,000 | $0 |
| Mike Purcell | $435,000 | $0 | $0 | $435,000 | $0 |
| TOTAL | $13,112,400 | $3,431,452 | $1,020,000 | $17,553,852 | $12,528,422 |
Justin Smith’s probable retirement makes Glenn Dorsey the highest-paid player on the defensive line, and it means both defensive end slots will need to have new starters in 2015.
The above table does include Tony Jerod-Eddie’s new deal. As an exclusive-rights free agent, he basically had to sign whatever the 49ers put in front of him, meaning the team will enjoy his services at below market rate for one more season. It does not include Darnell Dockett’s new deal, as that has not yet been officially signed.
Dockett’s deal should shoot him to the top of this table. According to Rotoworld, it’s a two-year, $7.5 milllion deal, with $2 million guaranteed. His salary cap hit will be $4 million in 2015, so take that out of the $21.5 million number we had above in the article.
That’s a bit much for Dockett, although not egregiously so. Dockett missed all of 2014 with a torn ACL and will turn 34 in May, so he’s not a long-term answer at the position. He probably gets penciled in as the opening-day starter for now, with the 49ers trying to address the position early in the draft.
Justin Smith’s retirement, along with the potential signing of Torrey Smith, increases the odds the 49ers go with the defensive line in Round 1, likely taking Arik Armstead out of Oregon. He’d learn as a backup for a season before taking over Dockett’s role, in the best-case scenario.
Linebackers
| NaVorro Bowman | $4,700,000 | $2,954,000 | $750,000 | $7,654,000 | $8,016,000 |
| Ahmad Brooks | $6,000,000 | $2,348,750 | $1,300,000 | $7,055,000 | $5,546,250 |
| Aldon Smith | $1,000,000 | $0 | $6,754,000 | $4,854,875 | $0 |
| Chris Borland | $530,000 | $154,359 | $10,000 | $694,359 | $436,077 |
| Michael Wilhoite | $660,000 | $0 | $0 | $660,000 | $0 |
| Nick Moody | $585,000 | $26,918 | $0 | $611,918 | $53,836 |
| Aaron Lynch | $510,000 | $49,500 | $0 | $559,500 | $148,500 |
| Chase Thomas | $510,000 | $0 | $0 | $510,000 | $0 |
| Shayne Skov | $435,000 | $0 | $0 | $435,000 | $0 |
| TOTAL | $14,930,000 | $5,533,527 | $8,814,000 | $26,378,402 | $14,200,663 |
Patrick Willis’ retirement is obviously the shocker here, but there are other moves of note that have happened since we last looked at the salary situation.
Most notable is the new Aldon Smith deal. Before the team reworked it, every penny of Smith’s $9,754,000 deal was in base salary. Smith’s new deal is worth the exact same amount of money, but now it’s tied to specific milestones, as reported by ESPN’s Field Yates.
Smith gets money based on showing up to offseason workouts and remaining on the team on the first of each month from April through August. He earns an additional $322,150 for every game he’s on the 53-man roster during the regular season and $2 million more if he plays more than half of the defensive snaps or records eight sacks.
This gives the 49ers protection in a couple of ways. First of all, it means that if Smith gets in trouble again and is suspended, the 49ers save money on his salary. It induces Smith to stay on the straight and narrow, as he won’t see most of his contract if he ends up suspended.
It also gives the 49ers short-term salary-cap relief—the roster bonuses and such don’t count against the cap until they happen. This mattered more before the news of the Willis and Smith retirements, but it frees up money now, as opposed to the money they’d get later if they, for example, designated Ahmad Brooks as a post-June 1 cut.
Brooks may still be cut, thanks to his poor performance and poor attitude last season, though the salary-cap implications are no longer as dire. The 49ers may still want to have Aaron Lynch in the starting lineup in 2015, but they can afford to hold onto Brooks for now and think about it harder.
The 49ers also re-signed Michael Wilhoite, giving him the same exclusive-rights-free-agent (ERFA) tender that Tony Jerod-Eddie had, according to Maiocco. There were reports that the 49ers were looking to trade him, according to The Sacramento Bee's Matt Barrows, but Willis' retirement likely throws that out the window.
Chris Borland is the likely player to step up next to NaVorro Bowman as the starter in 2015, but both Borland and Bowman are recovering from injuries. Wilhoite is much more valuable as insurance in a post-Willis world than any potential trade value the 49ers could get out of him.
It’s unlikely the 49ers will pick up anything in free agency here, though another edge-rusher could be picked up in the draft.
Secondary
| Antoine Bethea | $3,000,000 | $1,250,000 | $500,000 | $4,750,000 | $3,750,000 |
| Tramaine Brock | $1,850,000 | $750,000 | $450,000 | $2,790,000 | $2,250,000 |
| Eric Reid | $1,175,978 | $1,136,955 | $0 | $2,312,933 | $5,011,355 |
| Craig Dahl | $1,400,000 | $233,334 | $300,000 | $1,933,334 | $223,334 |
| Jimmie Ward | $743,297 | $873,187 | $0 | $1,616,484 | $4,429,452 |
| Dontae Johnson | $510,000 | $100,136 | $0 | $610,136 | $300,408 |
| Leon McFadden | $585,000 | $0 | $0 | $585,000 | $0 |
| Keith Reaser | $510,000 | $41,200 | $0 | $551,200 | $123,600 |
| L.J. McCray | $510,000 | $2,000 | $0 | $512,000 | $4,000 |
| Marcus Cromartie | $510,000 | $0 | $0 | $510,000 | $0 |
| Kenneth Acker | $435,000 | $30,150 | $0 | $465,150 | $90,450 |
| Cameron Fuller | $435,000 | $0 | $0 | $435,000 | $0 |
| TOTAL | $11,664,275 | $5,059,112 | $1,250,000 | $17,973,387 | $16,192,599 |
Reports are coming in that Craig Dahl has restructured his contract in a very minor way, according to Maiocco. It’s essentially a $400,000 pay cut that is not reflected in the above table, as the precise details are not yet available. It’s a negligible difference when talking about the overall picture.
The added salary-cap space, however, brings up a potential double-signing the 49ers could do. All throughout the offseason, the thought was the 49ers could afford to re-sign one of Chris Culliver or Perrish Cox, letting the other go free. Now, however, the 49ers have the cash to actually be in the bidding for both players.
Culliver’s likely to have a very strong market, but releasing Darrelle Revis, per ESPN's Adam Schefter and Mike Reiss, pushes all the other cornerbacks down a notch on the totem pole. Culliver’s been linked all over the NFL, but you’d think the 49ers, with more money than they expected, could now make a strong play at retaining him to shore up their secondary.
If they can’t get Culliver, they are also now in the market for another mid-tier free agent. I don’t expect the team to back up the Brinks truck it would take to bring Revis into the fold, but there are other players the 49ers could make a run at.
They could try to re-sign Tarell Brown, who spent a year in Oakland after several successful years in San Francisco. They could go for a short-term deal for ex-Packer Tramon Williams—a very solid player, albeit one that will be turning 32 this month. That’s alright; the 49ers have young players developing on the roster already, and Williams would provide a bridge to them, as he still plays at a high level.
Special Teams
| Phil Dawson | $3,134,000 | $1,000,000 | $0 | $4,134,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Andy Lee | $2,050,000 | $500,000 | $0 | $2,550,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Kyle Nelson | ??? | ??? | ??? | ??? | ??? |
| TOTAL | $5,184,000 | $1,500,000 | $0 | $6,684,000 | $2,000,000 |
The 49ers have just re-signed long snapper Kyle Nelson to a four-year deal, according to Caplan. The terms of the deal are unknown, but they are likely somewhere around the $1 million a year range. The 49ers now have a complete kicking unit put together, so that’s one less need on the list.
Overall
San Francisco fans still are stunned over the events of March 9—losing pillars of the team in Justin Smith, Frank Gore and Patrick Willis in essentially a 24-hour window is crushing. It gives the team more money to work with, but there needs to be a little bit of distance before we can really see how that money will be used.
It’s a chaotic time for San Francisco’s front office. We’ll see what happens when the dust settles in a week or so.
All contract values come from OverTheCap.com, unless otherwise noted.
Bryan Knowles is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Follow him @BryKno on Twitter.
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