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.
No. 3: 49ers Safety Jaquiski Tartt
Honestly, it might have seemed like a bit of a shock the 49ers brought back oft-injured strong safety Jaquiski Tartt for one more year, especially considering he’s landed on injured reserve in three of the last four seasons.
In hindsight, though, it’s a good thing the Niners went this route. Particularly in the wake of backup safety Tarvarius Moore suffering a torn Achilles during organized team activities.
Both Moore and Tartt are unrestricted free agents in 2022, though, and it’s likely neither will return.
Especially if San Francisco gets above-average play from their 2021 fifth-round rookie addition, Talanoa Hufanga, who despite his relative lack of speed, has a knack for making plays as evidenced by his four interceptions over six games with the USC Trojans last year.
Granted, assuming Hufanga automatically assumes Tartt’s role on defense next year is a bit premature.
Right now, though, it’s hard to see the 49ers continuing to spend veteran’s money on a player who has a lengthy injury history and will be 30 years old next season.
No. 2: 49ers Left Guard Laken Tomlinson
Unlike Jaquiski Tartt, left guard Laken Tomlinson has been the model of consistency and availability ever since joining the Niners via a trade at the very beginning of the 2017 season, starting every game for the team over the last three years.
While there’s not necessarily anything flashy or outstanding about Tomlinson, he’s been about as reliable as they come and certainly wasn’t a primary reason behind San Francisco’s offensive line struggles a year ago.
Considering interior linemen rarely command as much money as tackles like Trent Williams, why would the 49ers avoid inking Tomlinson, 29 years old, to a new deal in 2022?
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This has more to do with the team’s actions during the offseason than anything else.
In Round 2 of the NFL Draft, the Niners selected Notre Dame guard Aaron Banks, who’ll compete with the low-cost veteran, Daniel Brunskill, for the starting right guard spot. Brunskill, a restricted free agent in 2022, is going to be a cheaper re-sign for San Francisco, and Banks is going to be playing on his affordable rookie contract over the next four years anyway.
If both Banks and Brunskill wind up performing well this season in whatever roles they have, Tomlinson essentially becomes an excess commodity.
Tomlinson’s deal is voided in 2022, so the proverbial “writing on the wall” could be there anyway.
No. 1: 49ers Running Back Raheem Mostert
In comparison to Jaquiski Tartt and Laken Tomlinson, veteran running back Raheem Mostert is somewhere in between both of those other two contexts.
Also a free agent in 2022, it’s important to note Mostert will turn 30 years old by the time next season starts — the age when most tailbacks are thinking about calling it a career. And while the fact Mostert wasn’t exactly a featured rusher for the first half of his career, a recent bout with injury concerns can call into question whether or not the 49ers will entertain re-signing him.
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He did miss eight games last year with a multitude of injuries, after all.
That alone could be a reason why Mostert doesn’t re-sign. But just as is the case with Tomlinson, some of the Niners’ offseason moves don’t spell good news for Mostert’s long-term future.
In Round 3 of this year’s NFL Draft, San Francisco grabbed a player who’ll likely be Mostert’s heir apparent as RB1 on the depth chart, Trey Sermon, then added someone in Round 6 with Mostert-like home-run speed, Elijah Mitchell.
Just like Talanoa Hufanga, it’s too soon to automatically pencil in either Sermon or Mitchell as long-term replacements, but it does give a bit of an indication the 49ers aren’t gearing towards keeping an aging, oft-injured running back beyond this upcoming season.
Look for Mostert to be playing elsewhere in 2022.