These 49ers free agents are still without a home in 2022

A number of players who suited up for the 49ers last year remain unemployed as 2022 NFL free agency chugs along deeper into the offseason.

While not quite as extreme as the 2021 offseason, the San Francisco 49ers nevertheless had some awfully tough choices with regards to their NFL free agency class entering 2022.

A number of big-name players already departed to sign new deals with other teams, namely Pro Bowl left guard Laken Tomlinson (New York Jets), running back Raheem Mostert (Miami Dolphins) and nose tackle D.J. Jones (Denver Broncos).

Others, meanwhile, remain options for other teams on the open market.

With less than $2 million in salary-cap space, according to Over the Cap, it’s not likely the Niners look to bring back too many of their remaining free agents who are no longer under contract, although the longer such players remain unsigned, the better the chances of those players signing more team-friendly deals with San Francisco.

As long as the need is there.

49ers players from 2021 who remain unsigned in NFL free agency

Here are those who finished out 2021 with the 49ers but have yet to be signed to a new deal, at least as of April 3:

• CB Jason Verrett
• CB Josh Norman
• LB Marcell Harris
• WR Mohamed Sanu
• S Jaquiski Tartt
• S Tavon Wilson
• WR Travis Benjamin
• S Jarrod Wilson
• DT Darrion Daniels

Verrett, who missed all but one game last season after tearing his ACL in Week 1, could potentially be a low-cost option for some team needing help within the secondary, although his lengthy injury history is going to be a deterrent.

And with Norman having fallen out of grace during the latter half of 2021, it sure doesn’t seem likely the Niners will entertain bringing him back either.

The one name to watch, however, is Tartt. San Francisco’s longtime starter at strong safety, at least when healthy, Tartt no doubt helps make the 49ers defense better when he’s on the field. After signing a team-friendly one-year deal to stay with the Niners last year, though, there’s a strong possibility he’ll hold out for a much bigger contract under the right circumstances.

Read More: 4 NFL Draft prospects who could replace Jaquiski Tartt

However, both NFL free agency and the 2022 draft offer up plenty of likable options for his position, so Tartt’s market could be diluted a bit.

Potentially good news for San Francisco, even though it possibly looks to replace Tartt with recently signed free-agent safety George Odum, who has been a spot starter over his career but primarily cut his teeth on special teams.

As for the rest? Well, it sure doesn’t seem as if the 49ers will have much interest in bringing them back, although back-end-of-the-roster additions to get into training camp are always possible.