5 free agents who can make SF 49ers Super Bowl contenders in 2021
By Peter Panacy
SF 49ers Free-Agent Target No. 1: QB Dak Prescott
San Francisco could easily clear up a lot of cap space — $24.1 million, to be exact — if it parts ways with its starting quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, in 2021.
San Francisco 49ers
Whether or not that happens is anyone’s guess, although there is no shortage of rumors suggesting it’s a real possibility. John Lynch could then use that money to go after some prized free agents on the open market, re-sign some of the SF 49ers’ own pending free agents or a combination of both while going after a promising rookie quarterback in the NFL Draft and/or signing a journeyman signal-caller to toe the line on the cheap.
Or the Niners could go after Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
Prescott’s case is interesting. CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported Dallas is planning to use the franchise tag on Prescott again after doing so already in 2020, which would cost nearly 19 percent of next year’s cap total, or approximately $33.25 million.
The Cowboys currently have $28.5 million in available cap space next year.
Prescott’s compound ankle injury suffered earlier this season could easily drop his value on the open market, whereas there’s no room for financial changes on the franchise tag. It’s Dallas’ move now.
But if the Cowboys somehow elect to let Prescott walk, the SF 49ers shouldn’t hesitate to get one of the more prolific and potent young quarterbacks available on the market.
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Even if it costs all the money Garoppolo is scheduled to make and then some.