Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 4 guys they should keep, 4 guys they should ditch

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 17: Cornerback Jimmie Ward #20 and safety Jaquiski Tartt #29 of the San Francisco 49ers react after breaking up a pass intended for wide receiver Pharoh Cooper #12 of the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of the NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 17, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 17: Cornerback Jimmie Ward #20 and safety Jaquiski Tartt #29 of the San Francisco 49ers react after breaking up a pass intended for wide receiver Pharoh Cooper #12 of the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of the NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 17, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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Jerick McKinnon, Vikings
Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Ditch: Running Back Jerick McKinnon

Like Marquise Goodwin, it’s unfortunate the 49ers haven’t received much of any production the last two years from another high-profile free-agent addition, running back Jerick McKinnon.

And in McKinnon’s case, a 2018 ACL tear carried over complications, which landed him back on injured reserve this season, too.

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Kyle Shanahan surely didn’t plan on this being the case when the Niners inked McKinnon to a four-year, $30 million deal just over a year ago. McKinnon was supposed to be a focal point of the offense.

Without him, San Francisco has managed to produce the league’s No. 2 rushing offense this season. Last year, thanks largely to Matt Breida’s emergence, Shanahan’s offense churned out the 13th most rushing yards, which could have been higher if the 49ers were in position to win more games and not forced to pass more frequently.

The point is the Niners ground game is thriving without McKinnon in the picture. And with McKinnon turning 28 years old before the 2020 season, it makes more than enough sense to move on this offseason.

$2.6 million of McKinnon’s 2020 base salary becomes guaranteed on April 1, and San Francisco can clear $4.55 million in cap space with $4 million in dead money, if he’s moved prior to June 1. If it’s after June 1, the cap savings shoots up to $6.55 million with $2 million in dead money.

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Like Solomon Thomas, Tevin Coleman and a number of others, McKinnon’s contract value isn’t justifying the production he’s expected to deliver in 2020 and beyond. It’s a good time to move on.