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NFL Free Agency: 10 Big-Name Players the 49ers Should Target in 2017

By Peter Panacy

Nov 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers won 36-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers won 36-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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The San Francisco 49ers are going to have plenty of cap space this offseason. And with a nice list of pending NFL free agents, here are 10 well-known players the Niners should target in free agency this offseason.

October 4, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Nick Perry (53) rushes during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. The Packers defeated the 49ers 17-3. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
October 4, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Nick Perry (53) rushes during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. The Packers defeated the 49ers 17-3. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

The San Francisco 49ers are in a unique situation heading into the 2017 offseason.

Per Over the Cap, the Niners are going to boast $78,199,673 against the estimated $168 million salary cap this year — second most in the NFL behind the Cleveland Browns.

That gives a new 49ers general manager plenty of room with which to work. Whoever he might be, the next GM isn’t going to be tied to a bad cap situation in Santa Clara. And it’s even possible the Niners free up more money by releasing expensive players like linebacker Ahmad Brooks, safety Antoine Bethea and quarterback Colin Kaepernick this offseason.

While big-name free agents aren’t always the best way to go, in terms of building a contender, San Francisco still needs to make some substantial upgrades.

We should expect the Niners to land a number of blue-chip players capable of stepping into underperforming positions across the 53-man roster.

But it wouldn’t be a bad idea for the next GM to target two or three well-known players in an attempt to land key playmakers for 2017 and beyond.

Niner Noise talked about lesser-known free agents previously. Guys like that will help. But now it’s time to evaluate players fans know well.

Here are 10 big-name free agents who should be on San Francisco’s wish list this offseason.