San Francisco 49ers Veterans Who Have Been Put on Notice This Offseason

When the San Francisco 49ers put a player on notice, they usually get rid of him a year later.

Like last year. They put Mike Iupati on notice by investing a precious third-round pick in a guard—Brandon Thomas. The implication was clear: Thomas would take Iupati’s job in 2015 after the Niners let Iupati walk during free agency.

And that’s exactly what happened. Iupati signed with the Arizona Cardinals this offseason. The Niners just let him go. What did they need him for? They already had his replacement in Thomas.

This offseason, the Niners drafted future replacements for five veterans. These are the five San Francisco put on notice.

Tony Jerod-Eddie, Defensive End

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Tony Jerod-Eddie became the starting left defensive end after the 49ers released Ray McDonald in December. Jerod-Eddie seemed first in line to replace McDonald short-term and long-term.

Not anymore.

Now it seems Jerod-Eddie might get cut before the season begins. The Niners recently spent a first-round pick on defensive end Arik Armstead, meaning Armstead, not Jerod-Eddie, will replace McDonald.

With Armstead on the team, the Niners have six defensive linemen who almost certainly will make the final roster: Darnell Dockett, Ian Williams, Glenn Dorsey, Tank Carradine, Quinton Dial and Armstead.

Jerod-Eddie would be the seventh defensive lineman. The Niners typically carry just six.

Andy Lee, Punter

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In 2012, the 49ers signed Andy Lee to a back-loaded, six-year, $20.4 million contract. The contract is becoming more and more expensive every year.

Lee’s base salary increases annually. In 2015, his base salary will be $2.05 million. In 2016, it will be $2.83 million. In 2017, it will be $3.43 million. And in 2018, it will be $4.13 million.

The Niners might not want to pay all of that money for a punter who turns 33 in August.

And they don’t have to. They drafted a punter in the fifth round this year—Bradley Pinion. As soon as they feel he’s ready, they probably will cut Lee.

Will Pinion be ready in 2015? That’s the question.

Vance McDonald, Tight End

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If the 49ers had confidence in 2013 second-round pick Vance McDonald, they probably wouldn’t have drafted two tight ends this year—Blake Bell and Rory “Busta” Anderson.

McDonald is a good blocker, but the 49ers didn’t draft him to be a blocking specialist. They drafted him to replace Delanie Walker, one of the team’s primary receiving threats before he signed with the Tennessee Titans.

The past two seasons, Walker caught 123 passes as a member of the Titans. McDonald has caught only 10 passes during that time span. Some replacement.

It’s time for McDonald to do something, time for him to give the Niners a reason to believe in him. If he can’t, he’ll be the one who gets replaced.

Antoine Bethea, Safety

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Antoine Bethea isn’t on the roster bubble yet, but next season might be his last with the 49ers.

Bethea signed a four-year deal just last year. And he was excellent his first season in San Francisco, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl. He might have to earn a second straight Pro Bowl selection to keep his job for 2016.

Bethea is scheduled to earn $6.25 million in 2016 and $7 million in 2017. If next season Bethea declines at all (he will be 31 in July), the Niners might ask him to take a pay cut.

Or they may simply cut him. They spent their second-round pick this year on a safety—Jaquiski Tartt from Samford. They probably will give Tartt Bethea’s job as soon as he is ready to take it.

Aldon Smith, Outside Linebacker

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Aldon Smith will be a free agent next season, and he might want to test the market.

If he chooses to do so, he probably will end up signing with a team other than the 49ers. The Niners rarely re-sign their free agents after they’ve hit the market. They prefer to re-sign those players before they even become free agents.

Here’s how the Niners work: They offer a contract to an impending free agent before the season is over. If the impending free agent thinks he can get more money on the open market than San Francisco is offering, the Niners typically let him leave. They almost never raise their offer.

We don’t know what they will offer Aldon Smith, but he might choose to test the market no matter what he's offered.

And they already seem to have prepared for that outcome. They drafted a pass-rusher (Eli Harold) in Round 3 this year even though they still had pressing needs at inside linebacker and cornerback.

Perhaps Harold fills a pressing need, too. Perhaps he will replace Smith in 2016.

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