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San Francisco 49ers: Breaking down salary cap situations through 2018, 2019 and 2020

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 03: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Kena Krutsinger/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 03: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Kena Krutsinger/Getty Images) /

49ers’ Salary Cap Situation in 2018

Projected Cap Space: $74,503,582

Despite dishing out an average annual salary of $27.5 million for Jimmy Garoppolo, the 49ers still rank third in total cap space heading into 2018 behind the Indianapolis Colts ($77.3 million) and the Cleveland Browns ($110.1 million).

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

The Niners have only two notable pending free agents on roster, safety Eric Reid and running back Carlos Hyde. Franchise tagging either makes some sense, considering both depth and long-term options, although it’s feasible both walk in free agency.

Hyde’s 2018 market value, per Spotrac.com, is $5.8 million. Considering he’ll turn 28 years old in the early stages of the season, it’s likely the 49ers will pursue younger, cheaper options.

Whatever San Francisco decides to do about Reid might hinge on fellow safety Jimmie Ward, who is playing on his fifth-year option at $8.526 million. If he’s on the roster the start of the league new year (Mar. 14), that amount becomes fully guaranteed. While seemingly a fit in coordinator Robert Saleh’s defensive scheme, Ward is also injury prone and has finished three of his four pro years on injured reserve, including a season-ending arm injury in 2017.

The Niners don’t need to cut Ward for financial reasons, though, as the team is in no position to worry about cap casualties.

Being just shy of $75 million in cap space, general manager John Lynch can be “aggressively prudent,” as he noted in a February presser.