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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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MIAMI GARDENS, FL – NOVEMBER 27: Trent Brown #77 of the San Francisco 49ers blocks Cameron Wake #91 of the Miami Dolphins during the 1st quarter of the game at Hard Rock Stadium on November 27, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – NOVEMBER 27: Trent Brown #77 of the San Francisco 49ers blocks Cameron Wake #91 of the Miami Dolphins during the 1st quarter of the game at Hard Rock Stadium on November 27, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /

49ers’ Salary Cap Situation in 2019

Projected Cap Space: $90,411,688

It’s important to note the 2019 NFL salary cap is expected to jump somewhere in the range of $190 million, and the 49ers are currently sitting at the No. 9 spot in terms of overall space.

Jimmy Garoppolo’s 2019 cap hit drops from $37 million in 2018 to $20 million the following year, and wide receiver Pierre Garçon sits second, in terms of total cap hit ($8.4 million).

Barring a better-than-solid performance from Jimmie Ward, if he stays on the roster through 2018, the Niners will have to make a decision whether or not he’s worth re-signing. But a bigger looming question mark will be right tackle Trent Brown, who hits free agency in 2019.

Likewise, strong safety Jaquiski Tartt will be playing on a contract year and hitting free agency.

One might expect both to receive extensions at some point in 2018, primarily Brown, as upper-echelon tackles tend to command top dollar on the open market. Fortunately, the Niners have more than enough cap space to make this work.

The only other notable pending free agents for 2019 are wide receiver Marquise Goodwin and defensive end Arik Armstead. Should Armstead wind up returning from injury and impressing this season, the Niners could pick up his fifth-year option for 2019. But he also might be pushed out of a job by the team’s offseason actions heading into this year.

Either way, San Francisco is left with some flexibility.