Breaking Down the 49ers Salary Cap Space Situation in 2017
The San Francisco 49ers should have plenty of financial flexibility this offseason, considering how much they’ll have in total salary cap space in 2017. Niner Noise takes a look at where the team is in regards to the NFL salary cap.
One of many arguments against the ownership of the San Francisco 49ers is the team doesn’t like to spend money.
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An easy look at the surface would suggest this, right? According to Over the Cap, the Niners currently have $42,784,246 in space this season against the league’s $155.27 million salary cap.
This would lead many to believe San Francisco is shrewd, especially considering its overwhelming roster needs over what has been forgettable 2015 and 2016 campaigns. And to think, the 49ers’ biggest free-agent acquisition last offseason was none other than guard Zane Beadles.
Free agency might not be general manager Trent Baalke’s calling card. That’s fine. Most championship teams are built through the NFL Draft. But it’s safe to say he’s failed there too, which is another strike against him returning in 2017.
Fans will probably fear the next GM, if this happens, will be constrained by an inability to spend. Yet here’s the thing — the 49ers will have to.
Salary Caps and Floors
Per the NFL’s current collective-bargaining agreement, teams are required to spend at least 89 percent of the salary cap over a four-year period, ending in 2016.
You can read the rules yourself, and it’s pretty basic to understand. And don’t expect the 89-percent number to change either.
So that means the Niners have a floor — a point where they can spend no less. Granted, extending certain players and working out new contracts can change the salary cap picture, just like tight end Vance McDonald’s extension. But that’s only a piece of the puzzle.
Last weekend, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the 2017 NFL salary cap is expected to jump somewhere between $163 million to $165 million, which marks roughly a $10 million increase from this year’s cap total.
So let’s keep that figure in mind and break down where the Niners could sit next season.
Projecting the 49ers 2017 Cap Space
Over the Cap is accounting for the $10 million (or so) cap increase in 2016 and set the cap at $166 million.
Right now, San Francisco has $45,669,014 in cap space next year, but this number does not include the carryover from the 2016 season. If we add those totals together, and assume no other signings/extensions are made, the Niners would have over $88.45 million in space next year.
October 4, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Ty Montgomery (88) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) and outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (55) during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Packers defeated the 49ers 17-3. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
This number will fluctuate though. And it doesn’t include possible extensions, re-signings, rookie contracts from the 2017 draft and/or a wide plethora of scenarios potentially on the table this offseason.
Some of those scenarios include cutting expensive veterans like safety Antoine Bethea and Ahmad Brooks.
Both players are hitting the final year of their respective deals next season. Cutting Bethea would save the 49ers $5.75 million in cap space next year. And releasing Brooks would generate $7.8 million in cap savings.
Combined, that’s $13.55 million in addition to the $88-plus million above — a net total somewhere near $101.55 million.
The Colin Kaepernick Factor
We’d be remiss to mention quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
He could opt out of his current contract, which is set to expire at the end of 2017 anyway. Or the Niners could elect to cut him this offseason, saving $16.9 million in the process.
Either scenario in which Kap departs would open up a sizable chunk of money for the 49ers to spend. But it also creates a serious void at quarterback, especially with fellow QB Blaine Gabbert a free agent this offseason.
Neither are realistically the long-term option for San Francisco anyway. But not retaining Kaepernick would easily press the 49ers into finding a permanent or stopgap option under center next year.
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The 49ers might also be asking this same kind of question at a number of other positions too.
Some pending free agents could be re-signed, or the team might look elsewhere. But the gist of this whole article is the Niners have a lot of needs and should have a very substantial amount of cap space with which to work.
How they go about doing so is an entirely different question.
