5 free agents the 49ers absolutely must avoid at all costs
By Peter Panacy
The 49ers have some holes to fill in 2023, but these five pending free agents aren’t going to provide the solutions that the Niners need.
As of now, according to Over the Cap, the San Francisco 49ers have just a shade above $8 million in salary-cap space for the 2023 offseason and to attack NFL free agency.
It’s not a lot, but it’s also not the worst situation out there (check out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at over $56 million above the cap).
The Niners could restructure and rework some player contracts to free up money, yes, but it still means general manager John Lynch has to spend wisely.
Sometimes, spending wisely means passing up on free agents who would appear to fit a need but could wind up being one of those horrible free-agent additions that fans look back upon with scorn only a few years down the road.
No, San Francisco doesn’t want any of those in 2023.
Here are five free agents Lynch and the 49ers have to avoid this offseason no matter what.
No. 5 free agent 49ers must avoid: OG Dalton Risner
On the surface, looking for an upgrade for the middle of the offensive line makes sense, especially with the versatile veteran, Daniel Brunskill hitting NFL free agency and Spencer Burford having to platoon at the position.
Perhaps the Niners explore the market, but one player who won’t fit the bill is Denver Broncos guard Dalton Risner.
Risner’s rookie year in 2019 was a solid one, and he does have the benefit of being healthy and available, which has been a problem for San Francisco elsewhere.
That said, Risner is one of those perplexing evaluations where his game tape suggests a good run-blocking lineman but someone who can be a liability in pass protection.
If Risner ends up commanding $10-plus million a year from a team like the 49ers, it’d be a mistake, and they’d be better off developing Burford more.