49ers: 5 players in line for contract extensions in 2018

San Francisco 49ers: 5 players in line for contract extensions in 2018

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 17: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after sacking quarterback Marcus Mariota #8 of the Tennessee Titans during their NFL football game at Levi's Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

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GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 01: Running back Raheem Mostert #31 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles running back Kerwynn Williams #33 of the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Running Back Raheem Mostert

2019 Restricted Free Agent

The Niners would have a little bit of leverage with running back/special teams ace Raheem Mostert, with him being a restricted free agent.

Signed through this season with a fully guaranteed base salary of $705,000, Mostert’s value isn’t on offense. Instead, his work as a special teams gunner is where the 49ers would be maximizing their value.

Mostert’s plus-6.0 overall special teams grade was best among all non-specialist 49ers last season, per Pro Football Focus. And despite missing the final five games of 2017 with an injury, he was a big reason why San Francisco’s special teams coverage was so effective a year ago.

Fifth best in the league, per PFF.

Extending Mostert would ensure some continuity within this overlooked group for the foreseeable future and would also negate any concern about another team extending a qualifying offer the Niners would have to match an offseason from now.