Niner Noise
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3 reasons 49ers will be OK in 2020 without Emmanuel Sanders

By Peter Panacy

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 29: Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders #17 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during warmups before taking on the Seattle Seahawks during the game at CenturyLink Field on December 29, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 29: Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders #17 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during warmups before taking on the Seattle Seahawks during the game at CenturyLink Field on December 29, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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Wide receivers Deebo Samuel #19 and Emmanuel Sanders #17 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Wide receivers Deebo Samuel #19 and Emmanuel Sanders #17 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

No. 3: 49ers’ Long-Term Implications Are Better

If San Francisco’s Super Bowl window was starting to close, it would make sense the team would want Sanders back for at least one more season.

But John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have built the current roster for sustained success, and the Niners’ Super Bowl window just opened.

The limited amount of cap space means the 49ers won’t go after a lot, if any, big-name free agents this offseason. And with a less-than-ideal crop of picks for the 2020 NFL Draft, including just two (Nos. 13 and 31 overall) within Rounds 1 and 4, Lynch and Co. won’t have a lot of options that route, either.

If Sanders departs, the team will likely wind up with a compensatory pick in the 2021 draft. That’ll help, especially considering San Francisco’s cap situation could be just as tough a year from now. One could guess losing Sanders would result in a fourth-round comp pick, and Lynch has shown a knack for identifying and selecting day-three talent (George Kittle, anyone?).

There are financial ramifications, too.

According to Spotrac’s market-value tool, Sanders will command an average annual salary in the range of $10 million per season.

Not spending that money will help ensure the team can extend a player like Kittle, who’s likely going to command much more than that number when it’s time to negotiate a new contract.

Kittle is far more important to San Francisco’s offense anyway.