Niner Noise
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Why Kirk Cousins won’t come to the 49ers in 2018

By Peter Panacy

ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 03: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins looks on before the Redskins take on the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 03: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins looks on before the Redskins take on the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 02: General manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers answers questions from the media on Day 2 of the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on March 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 02: General manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers answers questions from the media on Day 2 of the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on March 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Financial Implications for the 49ers

The 49ers have the luxury of being $66,872,779 over the salary cap this season — tops in the NFL, according to Over the Cap.

So big spending shouldn’t be too much a concern for general manager John Lynch and chief contract negotiator Paraag Marathe.

But what would Kirk Cousins stand to make on the open market?

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

According to Spotrac.com’s market-value tool, the quarterback would be worth something around a four-year, $95.13 million deal — an average yearly salary of nearly $24 million. That might not be a big deal in 2018 or even 2019, but the long-term implications could cause some issues.

San Francisco will have to start thinking about up-and-coming players like defensive end DeForest Buckner, whose fifth-year option could be picked up for 2020. Cornerback Rashard Robinson is set to be a free agent that year. And if his upward trend continues, re-signing him could be tough, to say the least.

And what happens in 2021? This year’s draft picks — Ahkello Witherspoon, Joe Williams, George Kittle and Trent Taylor — will be up for new deals, and the same could be said of first rounders Solomon Thomas and Reuben Foster if fifth-year deals aren’t picked up.

The numbers are too wild and far off to predict right now. But Cousins would likely eat up a full 12 percent of a likely $200 million salary cap.

It would work right now, but things get difficult if the newest crop of Niners players work out nicely.

Even if that happens, it’s likely at least a year before San Francisco is remotely sniffing a playoff spot.

Which brings us to the next reason why the Niners don’t sign Cousins — the rebuild project’s time length.