49ers’ 2018 salary cap situation ahead of the start of NFL free agency
By Peter Panacy
49ers 2018 Cap “Casualties”
The Niners don’t need to move players to free up money, but that doesn’t mean they’ll avoid contract value versus production.
Among the top names, there are a few who could see their time in Santa Clara come to a close before the regular season begins. Perhaps the most obvious is offensive lineman Zane Beadles, who is likely pushed out of a roster spot after the 49ers re-signed offensive tackle Garry Gilliam earlier this offseason.
Beadles is in the final year of his three-year deal and would cost San Francisco just $583,334 in dead money if cut, compared to $3.5 million in cap savings.
Two other players, whose futures are a little cloudy, are safety Jimmie Ward and defensive end Arik Armstead. Both first-round NFL Draft picks (2014 and 2015, respectively) can receive fifth-year team options, and the Niners already picked up Ward’s back in April 2017.
Ward has landed on season-ending injured reserve in three of his four pro years, though. And with the rise of 2017 rookie Adrian Colbert, it wouldn’t be overly shocking to see Ward pushed out of a starting job this season.
Since it’s an option year, there would be zero dead money if Ward was cut. Instead, the Niners would save $8.53 million. Injuries not withstanding, of course.
Armstead, meanwhile, could be pushed out of a starting job this season too. A holdover from the Trent Baalke regime, the current 49ers front office has not picked up Armstead’s fifth-year option. A season-ending hand injury didn’t help Armstead’s stock either, and it won’t rise up much futher if San Francisco targets a high-profile edge rusher in the NFL Draft this April.
Armstead’s full cap hit of $3.13 million in 2018 would be dead money if cut, though. So it doesn’t appear likely San Francisco goes this route.
Depth along the defensive line is valuable anyway, even if the Niners invested in other players up front since Armstead’s 2015 rookie season.
But there’s always this: