Jimmy Garoppolo headlines list of notable 49ers free agents in 2023

The 49ers could lose a sizable number of their 2022 roster to NFL free agency this offseason, including Jimmy Garoppolo who likely won’t be back.

Perhaps 2023 will mark the offseason in which the San Francisco 49ers finally bid farewell to their veteran quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo.

Or, if events play out not unlike they did last offseason, Garoppolo winds up calling the Bay Area home for yet another year.

Unlike the 2022 offseason, however, Garoppolo isn’t under contract heading into the new year. No, he and a number of other Niners players are hitting NFL free agency this offseason, and it’s a safe bet to assume many of them won’t return.

According to Spotrac, Garoppolo’s market value this offseason is going to be $34.9 million, annually, which might seem like a lot.

But, considering the going rate of starting-caliber quarterbacks, it’s probably not too big a surprise.

San Francisco isn’t likely willing to pay that amount, though, even if it has an estimated $15.85 million in cap space, which ranks 11th most. With two other quarterbacks on rookie contracts, Trey Lance and Brock Purdy, would the 49ers entertain re-signing Garoppolo?

Probably not. And Garoppolo probably doesn’t want to return either, meaning he’ll headline the list of notable Niners free agents in 2023.

Let’s take a look at the full crop.

All contractual and salary-cap information, courtesy of Spotrac.com.

Every 49ers free agent entering 2022 offseason

Garoppolo might carry the name recognition, but there are a number of other key San Francisco players who are unsigned entering the offseason.

49ers unrestricted free agents

QB Jimmy Garoppolo
DB Jimmie Ward
EDGE Samson Ebukam
CB Emmanuel Moseley
OT Mike McGlinchey
LB Azeez Al-Shaair
K Robbie Gould
OL Daniel Brunskill
DT Hassan Ridgeway
DE Kerry Hyder
TE Tyler Kroft
DT Maurice Hurst
DB Tashaun Gipson
QB Josh Johnson
DE Jordan Willis
LS Taybor Pepper
TE Ross Dwelley
C Jake Brendel
CB Jason Verrett
DB Tarvarius Moore
DE Charles Omenihu

Ward, the 49ers’ longest-tenured player dating back to being drafted in Round 1 in 2014, is likely looking at trying to cash in on what’ll be his final big payout, especially after making the NFL Top 100 last offseason.

McGlinchey, meanwhile, had his fifth-year option picked up for 2022 but underwent no reported negotiations with the Niners for an extension, suggesting San Francisco could be willing to move on and find a replacement.

49ers restricted free agents

The 49ers don’t have too many notable restricted free agents, who could receive qualifying offers from the Niners but may be outbid by other teams if those squads want to give up draft compensation.

To better understand the difference between restricted and unrestricted free agents, check this out here.

LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
DT Kevin Givens
OL Colton McKivitz

It’s hard to envision any team around the league that’d want to pony up draft picks to land either of those players, but San Francisco would want to extend qualifying offers first, and those can sometimes exceed a player’s actual market value.

49ers exclusive-rights free agents

Despite having “free agent” attached to the title, exclusive-rights free agents aren’t free agents at all, and they can only negotiate deals with the team that holds their rights.

In this case, the 49ers have only one such player, wide receiver Jauan Jennings, and he’ll be back in 2023 as another third-down weapon.

NFL free agency officially begins on March 15, 2023.

Next. 49ers' 15 best free-agent acquisitions of all time. dark