SF 49ers roster: Targeting one free agent for each position in 2021
By Peter Panacy
Niner Noise combs the ranks of NFL free agency in 2021 and picks one free agent who could help bolster the SF 49ers roster.
The SF 49ers have nearly 40 players poised to hit NFL free agency this offseason. And even if the Niners had more than their projected $13.43 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap, they wouldn’t be in a position to re-sign all of them.
Considering the drop of the 2021 salary cap to an estimated $180 million, along with the fact San Francisco will have to extend up-and-coming stars like linebacker Fred Warner and EDGE Nick Bosa, general manager John Lynch might not be overly active on the free-agent market this offseason anyway.
But for a fun exercise, Niner Noise combs through the rest of the league and identifies pending free agents who could help the SF 49ers roster this offseason.
Of course, this isn’t to suggest the Niners should sign all of these players. In all reality, they wouldn’t be able to afford to do so. Yet if Lynch and Co. were to look at a realistic wish list, both in terms of fit and possible financial ability, picking these free agents for each of San Francisco’s positions could be a good starting point.
SF 49ers Safety: Keanu Neal
He’ll likely get a hefty payday this offseason. But OTC actually ranks Atlanta Falcons safety Keanu Neal’s 2020 value at an affordable $3.7 million, which is significantly less than what the SF 49ers paid their soon-to-be free-agent strong safety Jaquiski Tartt last season, $6.275 million.
Tartt, who ended on injured reserve last season, isn’t likely to return to San Francisco after spending his entire career with the franchise.
But the 25-year-old one-time Pro Bowler, Neal, has a bit of an injury history, too, playing just four games between 2018 and 2019 combined. He was healthy enough in 2020, though, so that’s a good sign. And having played under former Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, he should remotely be familiar enough with the Seattle Seahawks-like defense former SF 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh implemented.
Even though there will be some tweaks under new coordinator DeMeco Ryans.
If Neal comes at the right price, he’d be a scheme fit and would allow the Niners to get both younger and potentially cheaper.