The San Francisco 49ers won’t have a lot of resources to attack NFL free agency in 2020. But with some careful work, these three free agents should be on the radar this offseason.
It’s highly unlikely the San Francisco 49ers will turn in a blockbuster signing in 2020 NFL free agency this offseason.
For starters, that hasn’t exactly been the method of operation for general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan. They’ve traded for big-name players, yes. But as far as dishing out top dollar or free agents, it hasn’t happened to a great extent outside some of the notable deals previously given to players like fullback Kyle Juszczyk and linebacker Kwon Alexander.
Even if the Niners were aggressive on the free-agent market before, their projected salary cap space of just under $13 million for 2020 means they’ll have only limited resources to sign any of those big-name players set to hit free agency.
Tack on the team’s desire to either re-sign or extend some of their top players, particularly defensive end Arik Armstead and tight end George Kittle, it’s going to be hard for Lynch and Shanahan to spend openly this offseason.
There are likely going to be some ways the 49ers create more cap space, though, such as cutting or trading some no-longer-needed players, reconstructing other contracts and the like. And if these efforts are successful enough, San Francisco could wind up being a bit more aggressive in NFL free agency than initially thought.
Either way, the Niners should at least be interested in some players this offseason, should they hit the open market.
Here are three pending free agents who should be on the 49ers radar in 2020.
No. 3: Cornerback Daryl Worley
The 49ers have some notable concerns at cornerback, which include finding a long-term replacement for the veteran, Richard Sherman, who’ll enter a contract year in 2020. In an ideal world, the Niners would be comfortable with inserting either Ahkello Witherspoon or Emmanuel Moseley into Sherman’s stead in 2021.
But neither Witherspoon nor Moseley has exactly cemented himself a bona fide starter just yet, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see San Francisco pursue another option this season.
If free agency is the route to be taken, and grabbing a younger player winds up being the primary means, the 49ers could do worse than keeping a tab on Oakland Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Daryl Worley.
Worley, who’ll turn 25 years old later in February, is in line for his first substantial free-agent contract this offseason after joining the Carolina Panthers in Round 3 of the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
There’s a good chance the Raiders want to bring Worley back, as he enjoyed a productive 58-tackle 2019 campaign with eight pass breakups and an interception. And while it’s hard to determine if there will be a hefty bidding war on the 6-foot-1, 215 pounder, Over the Cap’s contractual valuation of Worley’s 2019 efforts being at $5.033 million suggests he could fall within San Francisco’s price range.
The body type fits, and Worley is still just hitting the prime of his career. Adding him could help lock down an immediate need, while also setting up a long-term fit when Sherman eventually departs.
As long as the price tag doesn’t get too high.
No. 2: Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
Unlike cornerback, the 49ers have a significant free-agent decision to make at safety.
Free safety Jimmie Ward, whom Pro Football Focus ranked the No. 6 overall safety in 2019, is set to cash in on the biggest contract of his career after his previous season-to-season efforts were largely marked by inconsistency and injury.
Ward helped solidify a Niners secondary, which ended up allowing the fewest pass yards in the NFL over the course of the season. John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have been enamored with Ward ever since they took over the team in 2017, and it seems as if they’ll make a strong push to re-sign him this offseason.
But Ward’s production last year could easily push him out of San Francisco’s price range. According to Over the Cap, Ward’s contractual value in 2019 was at $4.588 million. But PFF also suggested Ward could command north of $8 million annually on the open market after a career-best year.
Interestingly enough, PFF cited Chicago Bears safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix as a likable replacement, should Ward wind up being too expensive for the 49ers’ liking.
Clinton-Dix, 27 years old, still has youth on his side. And he also boasts one element Ward hasn’t enjoyed over his career: health. Ever since joining the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Clinton-Dix has appeared in every regular-season game eligible through last year.
Should Ward walk, Clinton-Dix could feasibly cost the Niners about a million less than the estimated $8 million asking price Ward could likely get.
Because of that, Clinton-Dix should be on San Francisco’s radar.
No. 1: Wide Receiver A.J. Green
Jimmie Ward isn’t the only pending 49ers free agent the team has to wonder about this offseason.
Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, for whom the Niners traded at the 2019 deadline, is hitting the open market, too. And after being such a difference maker for Kyle Shanahan’s offense in the second half of the year and into the playoffs, it’s likely Sanders will also command some hefty cash on the open market.
San Francisco 49ers
Perhaps enough to price himself out of San Francisco’s comfort zone.
While the 49ers have an up-and-coming receiving star in 2019 rookie Deebo Samuel, there are plenty of major question marks elsewhere at the position, including two-year wideout Dante Pettis‘ relative disappearing act. Pettis’ future is in doubt, while fellow receivers Trent Taylor and Jalen Hurd missed the entire year with injuries. Samuel and, to a lesser extent, Kendrick Bourne are the only solid commodities Shanahan has at his disposal in 2020.
But what if the 49ers went after Cincinnati Bengals veteran wideout A.J. Green?
This is something ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed in a recent NFL free agency/trade shakeup piece:
"While San Francisco would likely be interested in bringing back Emmanuel Sanders, Green is a clear step above Sanders and would be an ideal primary receiver in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Injuries are becoming a concern for the 31-year-old Green, who didn’t play a snap this past season, but this is a chance to add a transformational receiver."
Yes, Green would thrive in Shanahan’s offense. And considering his injury history, Green probably won’t be anywhere near as expensive as Sanders.
Plus, one has to figure he’d relish the idea of going to a legitimate Super Bowl contender after spending years with the Bengals.
Either way, the 49ers would be wise to at least explore the idea of bringing Green aboard this offseason, should Sanders walk and the price winds up being acceptable.
2020 NFL free agency opens up on March 18.