49ers 2020 NFL free agency tracker: Latest moves, rumors and updates
By Peter Panacy
49ers Tender Restricted Free Agents Kendrick Bourne and Matt Breida
San Francisco’s cap situation meant the usually easy-to-negotiate situations with restricted free agents weren’t going to be so easy this offseason.
Particularly with regards to wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and running back Matt Breida.
As it turns out, the Niners applied tenders to both, according to The Athletic’s Matt Barrows:
The #49ers have tendered their restricted free agents:
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) March 17, 2020
* WR Kendrick Bourne, second-round tender
* RB Matt Breida, second-round tender
* LB Elijah Lee, no tender
This is the high tender previously broken down by Niner Noise here, which is worth a qualifying offer of $3.278 million apiece. It makes a lot of sense for Bourne, who was one of San Francisco’s best red-zone weapons last year.
For Breida, however, it’s a bit more confusing.
Despite being one of the more productive runners in the league in 2018, Breida fell out of favor on offense down the stretch and into the playoffs. It’s possible the Niners want to keep him in case Jerick McKinnon isn’t fully ready by training camp.
Yet the Niners’ willingness to clear cap space suggests those figures won’t hurt too much, financially.