NFL Free Agency: 5 Realistic Free Agents the San Francisco 49ers Should Target in 2016
By Peter Panacy
The San Francisco 49ers will have a lot of cap space with which to work during the 2016 NFL free agency period. But many will be out of reach or require overpaying. So which free agents should be Niners targets?
The San Francisco 49ers will boast $55,239,714 in cap space entering the 2016 NFL free agency period, which ranks No. 6 on the list of most cap room, according to Over the Cap.
This gives general manager Trent Baalke and the Niners front office a lot of wiggle room to improve upon a roster that finished 5-11 last season and was ranked at or close to the bottom in nearly every significant offensive and defensive category a year ago.
With so much cap space, San Francisco can afford to splurge a little bit on the open market. There are a number of likable talents for the 49ers to target. But given the current team situation in Santa Clara, along with the high cost of living in the Bay Area, the Niners may be asked to overspend on a highly targeted free agent this offseason.
In a way, the 2016 49ers have become the Oakland Raiders of a few years ago. The Raiders used to have problems luring in free agents given their own problems and the unavoidable living costs in Northern California.
But the Raiders are trending upwards, while the 49ers are wallowing at the bottom of NFL ranks.
Not exactly a good selling point for high-profile free agents.
Other factors work into the equation as well. Franchise tags, teams’ exclusive re-signing periods and other elements could mean top-tier free agents may never come close to landing a job with the Niners in 2016.
Case in point, the Chicago Bears seem to be closing in on a new deal with standout wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. So hopeful Niner fans can cross one impact name off the list of hopefuls.
Yet let’s take a look at five realistic possibilities San Francisco may want to consider this offseason.
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