San Francisco 49ers: 5 players in line for contract extensions in 2018
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: Defensive Tackle Sheldon Day
2020 Unrestricted Free Agent
Usually teams wouldn’t want to consider an extension for a mere backup player, particularly a defensive lineman amid a crop of players at a position that’s already deep.
San Francisco 49ers
But defensive tackle Sheldon Day, whom the 49ers picked up off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars last season, is a different case.
The Jags simply didn’t have room for Day on their already deep roster. And Day’s presence on San Francisco’s defense was more than just notable. Over six games with the Niners, he registered 12 tackles and a sack. Even better, he’s only 24 years old and has yet to reach the pinnacle of his career.
Day will count for $630,000 against the cap in 2018, followed by a $720,000 cap hit the following year. If he winds up being a solid rotational piece along the 49ers defensive front this season, John Lynch should absolutely consider an extension.
The reason being is having good rotational depth is key to success in today’s NFL. Case in point, the Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles had one of the better D-line rotations in the league last year.
Maintaining that defensive flexibility is vital. And with Day capable of playing multiple spots along the line, extending him would be a wise move if he ends up having a solid 2018 campaign.