Difficult decisions 49ers must make due to salary cap issues

The 49ers aren’t in salary cap hell, per se, but they are faced with some awfully tough choices when it comes to navigating the 2023 offseason.

One of the problems associated with being a good team is that there are plenty of good players on that team’s roster.

And good players usually want to be paid accordingly.

The San Francisco 49ers, who have been no worse than a final-four team in three of the last four seasons, have a lot of good players. Tight end George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner, left tackle Trent Williams, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, wide receiver Deebo Samuel and running back Christian McCaffrey are all Pro Bowl-caliber players who either have been or still are within the top five of their respective positions, in terms of contractual money.

Tack on what’ll likely be a massive extension for EDGE Nick Bosa, one that’ll likely make the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL, one can see how general manager John Lynch and Co. will have to take some time balancing the coffers and lining up the proper bank accounts heading into 2023.

According to Over the Cap, the Niners have only $8.06 million in available cap space heading toward the league new year. It’s not awful (the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are currently $55 million over the cap), but it doesn’t make San Francisco a realistic competitor on the free-agent market.

Especially with teams typically reserving at least $6 million or $7 million to sign a rookie NFL Draft class.

While the 49ers will expect a hefty amount of dead money to come off the books in 2024 (OTC currently projects them at $52 million under the cap), Lynch and his staff are going to be faced with some awfully tough roster decisions this offseason.

Particularly these ones.

Note: All salary cap and contractual figures, courtesy of Over the Cap unless otherwise indicated.

49ers tough decision No. 1: Re-sign safety Jimmie Ward

Few players have been as vital to the Niners’ defensive resurgence the last few years as safety Jimmie Ward, the team’s longest-tenured player.

Ward, 32 years old, probably won’t take that much of a hometown discount at this stage of his career, especially if he’s lined up to earn what could be his final substantial payout a year after landing on the NFL Top 100 list.

Granted, his versatility makes for a unique commodity, and Ward adopted a key leadership role in the last two years.

That said, Ward might be looking at a contract that’d pay him close to $8 million a year, and it’s possible he’s already priced himself out of San Francisco’s comfort range.

Currently, though, the 49ers’ only safety under contract in 2023 with any legitimate starting experience is Talanoa Hufanga.

49ers tough decision No. 2: Re-sign Mike McGlinchey

Right tackle Mike McGlinchey might not be a fan favorite in the Bay Area, but his reputation for being an awful pass blocker is probably exaggerated to a large degree.

Even if pass blocking isn’t his strong suit, he’s one of the better run blockers in the NFL, and head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense is still a run-first system. One has to recall that the Niners bade farewell to a starting right tackle in Trent Brown in the same draft when McGlinchey was selected in Round 1 back in 2018.

Now, five seasons later, McGlinchey is ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 10th best free agent available, and they project him to earn a new deal worth $15.5 million, annually.

Read More: What do Niners do if Mike McGlinchey departs in NFL free agency?

Would San Francisco want to match that, particularly with tons of cash already tied up in Trent Williams?

It’s a hard bet, and the 49ers may actually be hard-pressed to find an upgrade over him anyway.

49ers tough decision No. 3: Keep Javon Kinlaw on the roster

Though no serious fault of his own, three-year defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw has been a major disappointment since the Niners grabbed him in Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Mainly due to chronic knee injuries, Kinlaw’s 2022 campaign was almost non-existent, and now he heads into a massive turning-point offseason where he could either push to resurrect his career or wind up being jettisoned before his rookie deal runs out.

Not unlike San Francisco’s top pick from the 2017 draft, defensive end Solomon Thomas, whose fifth-year option wasn’t picked up to no surprise.

However, the 49ers may simply opt to cut bait a year earlier.

Kinlaw has appeared in just 13 games out of 40 over the last two seasons, and it’s safe to say the Niners haven’t gotten an adequate return on their investment in him.

If they feel someone else is worth that roster spot and can stay healthy while contributing, perhaps Kinlaw is prematurely shown the door.

49ers tough decision No. 4: Upgrade the interior O-line

While San Francisco has a big question regarding Mike McGlinchey, taking a hard look at the rest of the offensive line should be nearly as pressing.

Outside of Trent Williams, of course.

Center Jake Brendel, a journeyman backup who had a mere three regular-season starts prior to 2022, is a free agent. He’ll be a cheap re-sign candidate for the 49ers, should they go that route, but Brendel isn’t exactly the kind of player worth committing big money to over a long period of time.

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Meanwhile, the Niners’ guard play had up-and-down moments, although left guard Aaron Banks does appear to be a solid building block for the next two years. At right guard, however, the rotation of Spencer Burford and Daniel Brunskill could come to an end with the latter poised to be an unrestricted free agent.

Retaining Brunskill sounds smart, but he might seek a more consistent situation elsewhere and at a higher dollar amount.

At any rate, San Francisco surely had to take note of why effective O-lines are required to win a Super Bowl, so any opportunity to make upgrades here can’t be wasted.