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NFL.com predicts 49ers cut Jerick McKinnon, Marquise Goodwin

By Peter Panacy

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 27: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings avoids a tackle by Kendrick Bourne #6 of the San Francisco 49ers in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 27: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings avoids a tackle by Kendrick Bourne #6 of the San Francisco 49ers in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the 49ers 32-31. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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The San Francisco 49ers will be pressed to make some hard decisions in 2020, and NFL.com suggests they’ll cut two notable offensive players this offseason.

For the first time in a while, the San Francisco 49ers are dealing with something of a tough salary cap situation.

According to Over the Cap, the Niners will be armed with $12,898,285 for the upcoming 2020 offseason. The team would ideally like to re-sign some of its standout players from last year, namely defensive back Jimmie Ward, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and defensive tackle Arik Armstead. Additionally, up-and-coming players like tight end George Kittle and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner are due extensions.

In order to make just some of the moves happen, San Francisco will have to clear up some cap space. And after years of being well below the cap ceiling, general manager John Lynch and Co. now have to navigate the very real possibility of executing some would-be cap cuts.

NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal offered up his predictions on some strong cut candidates for a number of teams around the league, and his suggestions for the 49ers aren’t too surprising: wide receiver Marquise Goodwin and running back Jerick McKinnon.

Rosenthal argued:

"GM John Lynch has been around long enough to start cutting some of the players he brought in, like McKinnon. Goodwin’s solid run in San Francisco appears to have reached its end because of injuries."

Cutting McKinnon does make a good deal of sense. The 27 year old has yet to play a regular-season snap for San Francisco after signing a four-year, $30 million deal with the Niners back in 2018. An ACL tear prior to Week 1 of that season derailed McKinnon’s campaign, and complications during his recovery ultimately landed him back on injured reserve last season.

On top of that, the 49ers have received some notable play from its other running backs, Matt Breida, Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert.

Parting ways with McKinnon would free up $4.55 million in 2020 with $4 million in dead money.

Goodwin also dealt with injuries and personal tragedies the last two years. After nearly hitting the 1,000-yard receiving plateau his first season with the Niners back in 2017, Goodwin has appeared in only 20 games between 2018 and 2019 and managed only 581 combined yards during that stretch.

The situation with Sanders opens up a slightly bigger possibility Goodwin is retained, as the 49ers are short on proven answers at wide receiver heading into 2020. But with one of the deepest classes at the position in the upcoming NFL Draft, one might think the Niners use one of their handful of picks on a wide receiver.

Should San Francisco move on from Goodwin this offseason, the team would save $3.656 million with $1.25 million in dead money for 2020.

Next. 5 key storylines to watch for the 49ers during the offseason. dark

Right there, the Niners would generate an additional $8 million, or so, in cap space. Ward likely could command that kind of average annual salary on his pending new deal, coming off a career-best year. And if the 49ers were adamant about bringing Ward back, the two cuts would free up enough money to make it happen while allowing for some of the other mentioned deals to take place.