San Francisco 49ers: Early look at 2022 NFL free agency class

While the 49ers faced some tough challenges in NFL free agency this year, the early forecast for 2022 creates even more obstacles.

The San Francisco 49ers had nearly 40 players hitting some form of NFL free agency heading into the 2021 offseason. Yet it’s pretty amazing the front office was able to re-sign a core number of key contributors, namely players like left tackle Trent Williams, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, safety Jaquiski Tartt, and cornerbacks Jason Verrett and K’Waun Williams.

All the while creating more cap space than the approximate $10 million in space just before the opening waves of free agency began.

But the NFL free agency situation for general manager John Lynch and Co. could be even tougher in many regards a little less than a year from now even though the salary cap is expected to increase back up again to $203 million, according to Over the Cap.

That’ll mean plenty of players hitting the market a year from now will look to cash in on massive deals, which wasn’t necessarily the case this offseason.

The Niners currently have 56 players poised for free agency in 2022. A sizable number of them are exclusive-rights free agents, meaning they can’t negotiate with any other team, so the chances of them all returning in 2022 is awfully high. Eight others, including right guard Daniel Brunskill and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, are restricted free agents, giving San Francisco a bit more control than the unrestricted free agents on the 49ers’ list of players in consideration.

Let’s take a look at those unrestricted types.

List of 49ers 2022 unrestricted free agents

It’s a pretty substantial list with some key players:

• LG Laken Tomlinson
• WR Richie James
• C Jake Brendel
• DB Tarvarius Moore
• QB Josh Rosen
• WR Trent Sherfield
• OT Shon Coleman
• WR Kevin White
• LB Nate Gerry
• EDGE Jordan Willis
• EDGE Daeshon Hall
• DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun
• LB Fred Warner
• WR Travis Benjamin
• CB Dontae Johnson
• QB Josh Johnson
• S Tavon Wilson
• S Jaquiski Tartt
• S Marcell Harris
• DT Zach Kerr
• TE Ross Dwelley
• RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
• CB K’Waun Williams
• RB Raheem Mostert
• DT D.J. Jones
• OT Mike McGlinchey
• CB Jason Verrett

Of that list, 10 players are either penciled in as starters or could assume roles depending on what happens in training camp. While a good chunk of the aforementioned names won’t make the Niners’ 53-man roster out of camp and whatever amounts to a preseason, Lynch will still face some tough choices with regards to handling extensions or other new deals awfully soon.

49ers running back situation is tricky

It might seem a bit of a luxury pick for San Francisco to go after a running back in the 2021 NFL Draft. But with Mostert, Wilson, JaMycal Hasty and Austin Walter all free agents after this year, plus with Mostert turning 29 years old before the start of the regular season, it might be wise for the 49ers to invest in someone sooner than later to be featured in 2022.

On top of that, Mostert, Wilson and Hasty also suffered serious injuries last season, too, prompting concerns about the health of this unit anyway.

Mostert and Wilson, in particular, could be looking to cash in on what could be their final chance at a sizable long-term contract a year from now.

What’s a long-term outlook for the 49ers O-line?

Re-signing Williams while adding veteran center Alex Mack was a huge boost to the Niners offensive line, but two more questions are already on the horizon with Tomlinson and McGlinchey pegged for free agency in 2022.

San Francisco could potentially extend Tomlinson, which could help free up nearly $2.9 million in cap space in 2021, and the team still has until May 3 to decide whether or not to apply the fifth-year option on McGlinchey, which would be a fully guaranteed $10.88 million, per OTC.

McGlinchey is a question mark. One of the league’s better run-blockers, his pass protection has not shown much improvement since he was originally drafted back in 2018.

Extension time for Fred Warner?

There’s always the possibility Warner elects to hold out until he receives a new contract. As of now, no news has surfaced about him potentially doing this. But having reached the point where he’s eligible to negotiate a new deal after spending the first three seasons on his rookie four-year deal, it wouldn’t be a shock if he’d want some long-term guarantees worthy of his All-Pro level of play.

The linebacker market is currently set by Seattle Seahawks 30-year-old veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner at an annual average value of $18 million.

Warner, who just turned 24 years old, is viewed in that same category and is only now hitting the prime of his career. Needless to say, he won’t come cheap. And it wouldn’t be shocking to see the 49ers have to dish out something in the range of $19-plus million in an annual-average value here.

Whatever the other moves wind up being, it’s probably best the Niners start saving their pennies now.