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NFL Free Agency: Predicting Best Moves for the 49ers in 2017

By Logan Stanley

Jan 1, 2017; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws the ball as New York Giants defensive end Owa Odighizuwa (58) chases in the third quarter at FedEx Field. The Giants won 19-10. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws the ball as New York Giants defensive end Owa Odighizuwa (58) chases in the third quarter at FedEx Field. The Giants won 19-10. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Heading into the 2017 offseason, the San Francisco 49ers own the second most cap space of any NFL team — $81 million. With a deluge of cash, the 49ers have the flexibility to be one of the most active players in NFL free agency.

Dec 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers team helmets on the sidelines during the game against the San Diego Chargers at Levi’s Stadium. Charges won 38-35 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers team helmets on the sidelines during the game against the San Diego Chargers at Levi’s Stadium. Charges won 38-35 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports /

Currently, only the Cleveland Browns rank ahead of the San Francisco 49ers regarding the most cap space. That might change soon as well, when you factor in Browns linebacker Jamie Collins’ recent mega-deal and the impending free agency of 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco, per statistics from Over The Cap, currently has $81,046,264 million in cap space. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick is set to make $14,500,000 million in base salary, with a potential of additional bonuses totaling $4,865,754 million. Taking away Kaepernick’s guaranteed money, the 49ers new cap room situation: $95,627,310 million.

With the dire state of the 49ers roster, this offseason presents an unique situation — lots, lots and lots of cash to spend on a roster that desperately needs stability and depth.

Here at Niner Noise, we have already looked at the possibility of the 49ers acquiring free-agent wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. That’s just the beginning of the rebuild this roster is yearning for.

Taking it a step further, let’s mock up the ideal 2017 free agency for the San Francisco 49ers based on market value estimates from Spotrac and Pro Football Focus’ (PFF) free-agency grades. The cap room we’ll be working with is $82,200,000 million (under the premise SF signs Jeffery) and as it is widely assumed Kaepernick will not be returning to 49ers next season. Player age will be a factor in this mock, as signing a 35-year-old veteran just is not feasible for a rebuild.