Niner Noise
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Breaking Down San Francisco 49ers’ 2016 Salary Cap Situation

By Bryan Knowles

Dec 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) celebrates after the 49ers recovered an onside kick during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) celebrates after the 49ers recovered an onside kick during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 9, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (55) during the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The 49ers won 27-24 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (55) during the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The 49ers won 27-24 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Linebackers

[table id=32 /]

Free Agents: Michael Wilhoite (RFA)

NaVorro Bowman is the best player the 49ers have on defense, and his contract restructure from 2014 ensures he’ll be on the roster for at least another season, and the team wouldn’t have it any other way.

A player under contract who might not be around is Ahmad Brooks; his play no longer justified the $9.6 million cap hit he will cost. It’s just very hard to see him sticking around for another year, though the 49ers do have the cap space to eat his deal if they have to. Brooks will either have to take a paycut or he’ll likely find himself on the street.

That still leaves room for another linebacker or two. One of them will be a middle linebacker to pair with Bowman in the middle, and the other would be a pass rusher to compliment Aaron Lynch.

Don’t expect Michael Wilhoite to be that middle linebacker. He may return to the team because he is a restricted free agent, but he can clearly be upgraded. I wouldn’t expect the 49ers to go too  heavily at the available free agents, either—this is a situation where they look to draft someone like Scooby Wright on day two of the draft.

A pass rusher would more be worth splurging on. Von Miller will be franchise tagged, but if they could go out and get Bruce Irvin, that would be an exceptional boost. They may have to address this position in the draft as well, however, because of the relative thin field of pass rushers available on the free-agent market and the high contracts they normally command.

Next: Secondary