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NFL free agency: 5 players the 49ers should target in 2018

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Sammy Watkins #12 of the Los Angeles Rams stretches the ball across the goal line for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Sammy Watkins #12 of the Los Angeles Rams stretches the ball across the goal line for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 22: Tight end Jimmy Graham #88 of the Seattle Seahawks makes a reception during the second half of a game against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field on November 22, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks won the game 29-13. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 22: Tight end Jimmy Graham #88 of the Seattle Seahawks makes a reception during the second half of a game against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field on November 22, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks won the game 29-13. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

With a slew of cap space, the San Francisco 49ers can afford to be aggressive in NFL free agency in 2018. Niner Noise looks at five possible players the team should target.

The San Francisco 49ers might be a two-win team 12 games into the 2017 season. But it’s a pretty safe assessment to say the Niners are finally trending in the right direction.

Acquiring quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo prior to the NFL trade deadline was one key move. Yes, he’s a pending free agent this offseason. But there’s no way San Francisco simply lets him walk, especially after giving up what promises to be a very high pick in Round 2 of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Garoppolo will either receive a long-term extension or receive a franchise tag. So the 49ers can cross off that need from a long list.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

And while the Niners will pay close attention to needs in the draft, free agency also opens up the door for some serious improvement.

According to Over the Cap, the Niners are projected to have $116,669,127 in available cap space (including this year’s rollover) for the upcoming offseason.

No other team has more.

Sure, some of that money will likely to go extensions. Perhaps Garoppolo’s eventual contract. And other players, such as running back Carlos Hyde and/or safety Eric Reid, may wind up seeing extensions too.

But the rest of the open market could be enticing enough. And we’ll look at some free agents San Francisco might want to lure in next season.

For the sake of clarity, we’ll focus on players not currently on the Niners roster.