The 49ers have to get creative with their salary cap space this offseason, and these four moves can assist with that.
The San Francisco 49ers have had numerous overtures about getting both younger and cheaper.
And it’s not just by the way of salary-cap spend either.
General manager John Lynch told reporters from the NFL Scouting Combine why the Niners need to “recalibrate” this offseason after years of being one of the biggest spending teams in the NFL amid perennial Super Bowl runs — $334 million in 2024, to be precise, despite last year’s salary cap being at $255.5 million.
Indeed, the decision to trade wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders despite absorbing a $31.5 million cap hit in the process is evidence of this. As NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco pointed out, the Niners “do not owe Samuel another penny” despite the aforementioned figure counting against the cap.
On top of that, Lynch pointed out the need for San Francisco to get younger after being one of the oldest teams in the league last season.
While there’s no single transaction that’ll solve the 49ers’ needs on these two fronts, there are some moves that can certainly help.
Including these four, which could swiftly generate almost $23 million in cap space this year.
All contractual and cap figures, courtesy of Over the Cap unless otherwise indicated.
No. 1: Kyle Juszczyk takes a pay cut
(Estimated) cap savings: $2.21 million
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk is a unique commodity in the Niners offense, yet he was asked to take a pay cut a year ago to the tune of $1.8 million entering 2024.
Turning 34 years old this spring while also entering a contract year, the lack of guaranteed money remaining on his current deal — worth up to $6.496 million — means the versatile chess piece is a strong candidate to be asked to take yet another cut again.
In theory, San Francisco could ask him to be cut down to a veteran’s minimum, so there’s no true way to gauge exactly how much would be saved.
But, OTC’s projection on a restructure (an actual restructure likely wouldn’t happen) generates a shade above $2.2 million in cap savings without generating any dead money.
It also wouldn’t be surprising if the 49ers let Juszczyk walk after 2025 in said attempt to get younger.
No. 2: Release Javon Hargrave with post-June 1 designation
Cap savings: $2.23 million
Toward the end of the regular season, Lynch admitted the Niners were planning on releasing Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave with a post-June 1 designation after restructuring his existing contract. Then, the Friday prior to the league new year, news broke Hargrave had been informed of his impending release.
The veteran interior lineman missed almost all of 2024 with a triceps injury, and Lynch left the door open to a possible return, albeit on a new deal.
But, it appears as if Hargrave’s days of donning a San Francisco uniform are in the past.
Such a release won’t benefit the 49ers’ cap situation until June 1, of course. And the amount of savings generated for 2025 is rather inconsequential: $2.23 million against a dead-cap hit of $7.375 million in dead money.
However, the cap savings would kick in much more in 2026 with $10.1 million generated.
Such a move would open the door for a younger player to fill the void.
No. 3: Release Leonard Floyd with post-June 1 designation
Cap savings: $7.95 million
Teams are awarded two post-June 1 designations per offseason, and the initial thought was the Niners would apply them to both Hargrave and Samuel. With Samuel traded, though, San Francisco would still have a designation left if it indeed moves on from Hargrave.
If that winds up being the case, releasing veteran pass-rusher Leonard Floyd with a June 1 designation makes sense.
Again, the fiscal benefit wouldn’t hit until that date, yet it would still generate nearly $8 million in cap savings, money that could be used to ultimately sign a portion of the 49ers’ 2025 NFL Draft class, which won’t need to be under contract until training camp, per the collective bargaining agreement.
While Floyd was modestly effective as the Niners’ No. 2 pass-rusher behind All-Pro Nick Bosa, the former will also turn 33 years old this upcoming season.
Sure, there’s an argument San Francisco could part ways with fellow defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos in a similar cap-saving move. But, with Gross-Matos significantly younger at 27 years old, it makes more sense to part ways with the elder veteran.
No. 4: Extend George Kittle
Cap savings: $10.6 million
If Lynch has his way, tight end George Kittle remains with the 49ers for the rest of his career, and the All-Pro stressed as much, too.
Kittle, a franchise cornerstone, is entering a contract year and is awaiting a would-be extension, one that’s likely being held up by quarterback Brock Purdy’s own pending deal.
But, after yet another 1,000-yard campaign, it’s clear the 31-year-old perennial Pro Bowler isn’t slowing down anytime soon, and he’d be the one exception where the Niners don’t mind retaining an elder statesman on the roster.
Per OTC, an extension would generate $10.6 million in cap space.
Sounds like a no-brainer, especially if it ensures Kittle won’t go anywhere.
In total, the amount of savings is a hair shy of $23 million, and it could be more, depending on the nature of Juszczyk’s would-be pay cut.
Now, all one can do is wait to see if San Francisco goes about engineering such moves.
