5 pending free agents SF 49ers must re-sign in 2021
By Peter Panacy
SF 49ers Re-Sign Target No. 4: Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley
2020 Cap Hit: $675,000
Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley is in a bit of a different situation than the other players on this list, as he’s a pending restricted free agent, meaning the SF 49ers would have to place a tender on him if they didn’t re-sign him to a more lucrative deal outright, and there’s no reason for the Niners to go that route now.
The question would be the tender value and corresponding NFL Draft compensation. An original-round tender would be $2.133 million, whereas a second-round tender would be $3.259 million and a first-round tender would be at $4.641 million.
The original-round tender appears to make the most sense, and Moseley has shown to be a reliable, if not overly imposing defensive back amid the myriad of injury problems the Niners have suffered so far in 2020.
In light of Richard Sherman and potentially other free-agent cornerbacks departing, namely Jason Verrett and Ahkello Witherspoon, it would be wise for San Francisco to retain one of its defensive backs who has largely remained healthy and has contributed at a better-than-acceptable level since being thrust into a starting role last season.
Re-signing Verrett might be nice, too, especially considering his stellar play in 2020. But given his own injury history — six games played between 2016 and 2019 — it might be a safer option to move on.