49ers Free Agency: 5 Players SF Should Target This Offseason
Feb 18, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke speaks at a press conference during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
The 2015 season is fast approaching its end, and the San Francisco 49ers have a lot to think about this coming offseason. With its current record of 4-10, the 49ers have a lot of holes to fill. Here are five free agents the 49ers should take a long look at to help improve this squad.
Per Overthecap.com, the San Francisco 49ers currently have $40,731,082 in cap space to spend for 2016 free agency (based on a projected NFL salary cap of $150 million).
This figure is not set in stone, and could go up, as quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s future with the organization looks cloudy at best (he seems likely to be traded or released before his salary becomes fully guaranteed on April 1 2016). If the 49ers do indeed release him prior to this date, they would save $9,360,000 against the cap.
Linebacker Ahmad Brooks seems likely to be a cap casualty, as his 2015 salary of $6,500,000 doesn’t match his current production.
You can also add in soon-to-be free agent guard Alex Boone ($3,723,000), who likely wants a significant pay raise and the 49ers traditionally do not like to overpay at his position.
The 49ers have several glaring holes in certain positions, namely the defensive line, linebacker, offensive line, and wide receiver. The depth that the 49ers used to have at these positions has quickly eroded, with various retirements and free agency decimating it.
Before we look at potential free agent signings, it is worthwhile to take a quick peek at the 49ers upcoming free agents, and who might potentially re-sign, and who might leave causing more holes to fill:
- Wide receiver Anquan Boldin — likely to be re-signed, but at a much lower salary than he gets now ($6,909,000). A team-friendly one-year deal would make sense.
- Kicker Phil Dawson — likely to be released due to his $4,134,000 cap figure. The team will probably go younger and cheaper here, and will probably address this in the draft
- Running back Reggie Bush — likely to also be released due to his cap figure ($2,406,250), his age and his history of injuries
The other 49ers free agents have fairly cheap cap hits, and the one’s who are most likely to get re-signed are nose tackle Ian Williams, tight end Garrett Celek and defensive end Tony Jerod-Eddie.
With these potential transactions is mind, let’s take a look at five free agents who could be in 49ers uniforms next season (in no particular order).