Niner Noise
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Predicting which players 49ers re-sign in 2020 NFL free agency

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Ronald Blair #98 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates after sacking Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams (not pictured) during the fourth quarter 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: Ronald Blair #98 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates after sacking Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams (not pictured) during the fourth quarter 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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GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 28: Defensive tackle Sheldon Day #96 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles quarterback Josh Rosen #3 of the Arizona Cardinals during the third quarter at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 28: Defensive tackle Sheldon Day #96 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles quarterback Josh Rosen #3 of the Arizona Cardinals during the third quarter at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

The San Francisco 49ers have a long, long time before having to worry about 2020 NFL free agency and whether or not to re-sign pending free agents. But for the heck of it, let’s predict who stays put.

There’s so much yet to be determined with the San Francisco 49ers‘ 2020 NFL free agency class, particularly with players on their roster right now, yet poised to hit a contract year this season.

A few players on those “one year remaining” deals could easily wind up earning extensions in 2019, while others could easily be targeted for re-sign deals once the regular season (and hopefully playoffs) come to a close.

Others, however, seem to have little chance hanging around with the Niners beyond this year, though.

While a number of X-factors are yet to be played out, it’s possible to gauge what some of general manager John Lynch’s re-sign efforts will be in 2020. By looking at the way the current roster is constructed, we can gauge which players seem poised for San Francisco to bring back next year.

Currently, the 49ers are looking at the following pending free agents in 2020:

* denotes a 2020 restricted free agent

If they wind up surviving roster cuts and the regular season, the vast majority of restricted free agents likely return in 2020. Same goes with the cast of exclusive-rights free agents, which include quarterback Nick Mullens.

RFAs can negotiate with other teams, of course. But the return compensation if the Niners don’t match the offer means other squads rarely target RFAs.

And ERFAs don’t have rights to negotiate with other teams anyway.

It’s hard to envision any scenario in which Gould winds up staying in San Francisco next season. He could possibly find himself off the 49ers roster between now and Week 1, depending on what the team elects to do with his current franchise tag holdout.

With some slim pickings, which unrestricted free agents will the Niners end up keeping in 2020?

Let’s make some early predictions.