3 pending free agents 49ers won’t bring back in 2022
By Peter Panacy
The 49ers face some more tough NFL free agency decisions next year, but don’t expect these three pending free agents to re-sign in 2022.
It’s a small miracle the San Francisco 49ers were able to retain the bulk of their 2021 NFL free agency class during the offseason, ensuring key players like left tackle Trent Williams, cornerback Jason Verrett and fullback Kyle Juszczyk didn’t go anywhere despite receiving interest from other teams.
Especially considering the diminished salary cap.
That cap is expected to increase back up again for 2022, potentially as far as $208.2 million, according to Over the Cap. And while that’s great news for a team like the Niners, who’ll again face even more free-agent questions with their current roster a year from now, there’s a good chance fans will see some well-known players suiting up elsewhere next season.
Currently, OTC pegs San Francisco as having $23.73 million in available cap space in 2022, which is just about in the middle of the pack. That number should be expected to jump a lot, too, depending on what happens with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
If cut or traded during the 2022 offseason, the 49ers could tack on nearly $26 million in additional cash.
They’ll need it, too, especially with star players like linebacker Fred Warner and EDGE Nick Bosa looking for extensions in the near future.
Related to a would-be Garoppolo move, however, is the likelihood of some pending 2022 free agents not returning to the Niners next season.
Whether it’s because of cost considerations or presumed replacements already on the roster, look for these three current San Francisco players to be suiting up somewhere else in 2022.