Predicting 3 cap casualties SF 49ers will cut to free up money in 2021
By Peter Panacy
No. 1: SF 49ers Center Weston Richburg
One of the key differences Matt Maiocco pointed out between Dee Ford and Weston Richburg’s respective contracts is how Ford had an injury guarantee written into his deal.
Richburg, however, does not.
Remember, the Niners made Richburg one of the league’s highest-paid centers back in 2018. And while he’s been effective when on the field, observing him miss the latter portion of 2019 with a knee injury that carried all the way through 2020 makes him a likely cap casualty this offseason.
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Particularly when considering he’s due $11.5 million this year.
Granted, center was a revolving door for San Francisco last season, but the same element of the NFL Draft O-line class being deep applies here. Plus, reserve center Ben Garland — a free agent in 2021 — handled starting duties well enough late in 2019 and early in 2020 to be considered a cheap re-sign to fill in for Richburg if needed.
In an ideal world, made notable by the lack of an injury guarantee, the SF 49ers would make Richburg a cap casualty after June 1, which would save the team $7.95 million against $3.5 million in dead money. Doing so beforehand would generate savings but only $4.5 million with almost $7 million in dead money.
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Either way, if the Niners have to free up some capital this offseason, expect Richburg’s cut to be one of the primary ways it happens.