The 49ers would be wise to think about retaining these four key players who are entering contract years this season and will hit NFL free agency in 2022.
Whether it’s through an extension or a priority re-sign deal before NFL free agency kicks off in March of 2022, the San Francisco 49ers need to think hard about retaining some key players who are set to hit the open market a little less than a year from now.
If there’s good news, the Niners don’t have to think too hard about this right away. But planning on some retention now would go a long way towards alleviating some long-term roster concerns while guarding against letting some top players test the open market.
Kind of like what San Francisco had to endure before signing Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams to a record-breaking six-year, $138 million contract this offseason. It would have been nicer to tackle that before he hit the open market.
According to Over the Cap, the 49ers are projected to have $23.7 million in cap space for 2022, although that number will ebb and flow a lot between now and the start of the next NFL new year.
Regardless, it would be smart if general manager John Lynch and Co. highlighted these four players as names who need to be retained beyond this upcoming season.
49ers Re-Sign Priority No. 4: Tight End Ross Dwelley
Perhaps the Niners have given up on what seems to have been a yearly attempt to get a high-quality No. 2 tight end to pair with the All-Pro, George Kittle.
While San Francisco added two tight ends to the mix this offseason, undrafted rookie Josh Pederson and veteran MyCole Pruitt, all signs point to fourth-year pro Ross Dwelley being the guy to support Kittle.
True, the drop from Kittle to Dwelley is substantial. But that would be the case for almost any other tight end out there made available. And considering how Dwelley’s versatility, namely being able to fill in at fullback and not just as a Kittle reserve piece, the 49ers would be smart to bring Dwelley back on a new deal.
In 2020, with Kittle missing eight games, Dwelley admirably stepped up with 245 yards on 19 catches with a touchdown.
An unrestricted free agent in 2022, Dwelley won’t likely cost the Niners much at all but would be a wise re-sign addition, given his previous abilities to contribute for Kittle in the clutch.
49ers Re-Sign Priority No. 3: Cornerback Jason Verrett
This might be something of a contingent priority for San Francisco, but it would at least be wise for John Lynch and Co. to strongly consider retaining veteran cornerback Jason Verrett in 2022 and beyond.
Verrett, who signed a team-friendly one-year deal to hang around last season, also enjoyed a fully healthy year for the first time since 2015. Yet the injury concerns remain, and they’re not likely to automatically get better considering he just turned 30 years old.
Hence the contingency part. Let’s see if he stays healthy.
If Verrett does stay healthy, though, re-signing Verrett on a quality two- or three-year deal would make a lot of sense, especially given the 49ers secondary will likely look awfully different in 2022. The two rookie corners, Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir, may not be fully ready to start next year, let alone this season, and there have been plenty of pre- and post-NFL Draft scouting reports suggesting they’re both nickel-type defensive backs rather than names who can occupy the boundary.
Regardless, it would be wise for the Niners to budget some funds to retain Verrett as a solid veteran piece while the rest of the defensive backfield begins to transition over to a youth movement.
49ers Re-Sign Priority No. 2: Offensive Lineman Daniel Brunskill
Offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill will be a restricted free agent in 2022, so San Francisco has a bit more control over his immediate future than the other players on that list.
Still, the 49ers will want to make sure Brunskill doesn’t get away from their collective grasp next offseason.
It’s unclear whether or not Brunskill locks down the starting right guard position this year. Especially after the Niners selected former Notre Dame guard Aaron Banks in Round 2 of the NFL Draft last spring. But with left guard Laken Tomlinson entering a contract year and getting up there in age, there is a scenario where both Banks and Brunskill could end up being the starting guard tandem.
Certainly possible in 2022. Potentially sooner, should San Francisco make Tomlinson a surprise roster cut between now and Week 1.
Either way, Brunskill’s reliability as a versatile backup for all five spots along the offensive line makes him valuable. And the RFA contracts are typically much cheaper deals anyway, so it wouldn’t hurt for the 49ers to prepare for that tender with all intent of keeping him for the foreseeable future.
49ers Re-Sign Priority No. 1: Linebacker Fred Warner
The last thing the Niners need is to let All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner sniff NFL free agency.
In all likelihood, a would-be Warner extension is probably in the works and could take place anytime between now and the start of training camp, perhaps getting into a new range for linebackers with an annual average value over $18 million per year.
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Fine. That’s money well spent. Especially when one considers Warner’s previous annual average was a mere $995,000.
Granted, San Francisco doesn’t have to extend Warner right away. And the 49ers could even apply a franchise tag on Warner in 2022 if they want to. Yet that could easily create friction between the franchise and one if its top defensive players, and the market for young Pro Bowl-caliber linebackers isn’t going to get cheaper anytime soon.
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So, understandably, it would be much wise for the Niners to finish off an extension for Warner sooner than later.
Beyond just the impact and the numbers, San Francisco rewarding Warner with a plus-sized contract would also show to the rest of the team how exceptional play and leadership can pay off, which is a great way to ensure the general happiness of the roster. The 49ers have no need to lowball Warner here.
Sooner equals better in this case.