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San Francisco 49ers free agency: Top 5 targets for 2018

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Trumaine Johnson #22 of the Los Angeles Rams attempts to tackle Jeremy Kerley #17 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of their game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Trumaine Johnson #22 of the Los Angeles Rams attempts to tackle Jeremy Kerley #17 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of their game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 13: Dion Lewis #33 of the New England Patriots carries the ball in the second quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 13: Dion Lewis #33 of the New England Patriots carries the ball in the second quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Even after the Jimmy Garoppolo deal, the San Francisco 49ers still have a large amount of available cap space for 2018. Here are some realistic free-agent targets based off latest rumors and reports.

The San Francisco 49ers were in a position this offseason, financially, to sign quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to the largest contract in NFL history while still finishing in the top five of available cap space in advance of free agency, which starts officially on Mar. 14.

According to Over the Cap, the Niners hit the market with $68,989,382 in available cap space — fifth most in the NFL.

Earlier this offseason, general manager John Lynch noted the team would be “aggressively prudent” when approaching free agency this offseason.

More from SF 49ers Free Agency

Here we are at the beginning of March, less than two weeks away from the point where teams can enter the legal tampering period with pending free agents on Mar. 12. Not surprisingly, plenty of reports and rumors start echoing during the NFL Scouting Combine, which is taking place this week in Indianapolis.

Player agents are in attendance, of course, trying to line up prospects as clients. And it’s only natural these agents brush arms with general managers and executives from around the league.

They can’t “officially” begin negotiations on behalf of their existing clients. But only a fool would believe parties won’t converse about possible future free-agent deals.

With San Francisco fully prepared to make some splashes in free agency, let’s take a look at some players who might be on the radar, based off what we’ve learned from the latest rumors and reports.