Predicting 3 cap casualties SF 49ers will cut to free up money in 2021
By Peter Panacy
The SF 49ers, like many teams across the NFL, will need to make some sizable roster changes in 2021, and these three could be cap casualties.
Contrary to some popular belief, the SF 49ers aren’t totally in salary cap hell heading deeper into the 2021 offseason.
Granted, being a projected $13.36 million over the expected $180 million salary cap, per Over the Cap, isn’t exactly the best situation to be in from the Niners’ vantage point. But when considering nearly a third of the league is actually over the cap heading into the offseason, things could be much worse for general manager John Lynch and Co.
That said, San Francisco is going to be one of many teams making some serious roster alterations between now and the start of the league new year, and there are likely to be plenty of high-profile players who emerge as cap casualties this offseason as those teams struggle to trim down and get under the projected cap.
Exactly who this affects is a big question mark. There’s been plenty of speculation quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo could be a cap casualty, which would free up $24.1 million of his $26.6 million total hit for 2021.
But the signs are pointing more and more towards Jimmy G staying put in 2021.
Yet Garoppolo isn’t the only potential contract the Niners may consider moving on from this offseason. If anything, staying committed to Garoppolo while moving on from these three potential cap casualties could be the course of action Lynch and the front office takes before the start of the league new year this March.