49ers create $11 million in cap space with Dee Ford restructure

The details are out behind the 49ers’ restructure of EDGE Dee Ford’s contract, and it’s pretty good news from the salary-cap perspective.

For those thinking the NFL salary cap is just a fictitious number, the San Francisco 49ers‘ reworked deal with EDGE Dee Ford is another indication why.

The Niners were lucrative spenders in free agency this offseason, and the record-setting deals for left tackle Trent Williams and fullback Kyle Juszczyk were key elements in general manager John Lynch’s spending spree.

Both of those deals would have been far more difficult to execute had it not been for a parallel effort to restructure EDGE Dee Ford‘s contract.

Ford, who signed a five-year, $85 million extension after being traded from the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019, missed all but one game last year with a serious back injury. And that same injury is casting serious doubts on whether he’ll be able to play this upcoming season.

The 30-year-old pass-rusher was poised to make over $20 million this season. Yet his serious injury history would have likely led to him becoming a cap casualty for the cap-stressed 49ers.

Especially with Ford’s injury guarantee worked into his previous contract.

We’ve known about the Niners having reworked Ford’s contract, but the details are now in, courtesy of Over the Cap.

49ers generate $11 million in cap space with Dee Ford restructure, now have over $20 million in cap space for 2021

Ford’s base salary this season goes down from just over $15 million to $4 million in 2021.

That was part of the restructured move, as well as OTC’s breakdown of the change:

"The 49ers restructured Ford’s contract in 2020 for salary cap relief by converting $12.74 million of his salary into a bonus. The move creates $9.55 million in 2020 cap room and increases Ford’s cap charge by $3.18 million in each of the remaining seasons of his contract.The 49ers renegotiated Ford’s contract in 2021, reducing his salary from $16 million to a fully guaranteed $7 million, $3 million of which is paid as a signing bonus. Ford has an injury guaranteed $4.6 million roster bonus in 2022 to cover his injury protection liability from his prior contract. 2023 is now a void year. The team picked up about $11 million in cap space with the move."

For now, Ford is set to cost San Francisco $8.9 million in 2021 with $4 million fully guaranteed. If the 49ers cut Ford after June 1, it wouldn’t generate any cap savings and would cost that $8.9 million in dead money. Yet there’s an argument the Niners would rather let Ford walk than pay him to hang around on an injury list this upcoming season. But a post-June 1 cut would generate $7 million in cap space in 2022, showing San Francisco has at least gotten out from under that massive contract.

The 49ers had just over $8 million in cap space entering March 22, but the Ford deal pushes that number up to nearly $20 million in space this season.

And with center Weston Richburg poised to retire after serious injuries suffered in 2019, it’s estimated the Niners will have an additional $1 million in cap space for this season with over $9 million in 2022.

So for those worried about San Francisco’s cap space, think again. The team is in fine shape, cap-wise.