SANTA CLARA – The NFL’s saloon doors swing open Monday for free agency, and the 49ers still have enough money to buy a round. Perhaps one last round.
Next year’s payroll will take on a big-ticket extension for quarterback Brock Purdy. Already loaded with a bevy of highly paid stars, the 49ers’ roster remains very much within a championship window.
Enough salary cap space exists – or will be created — to splurge on a free agent or two. Or perhaps their aggressive nature leads to another big-time trade, like the March 2019 move for pass rusher Dee Ford.
General manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan can’t sit idle. It’s not their style. And it would be an injustice to not add, oh, that final piece after being so close – literally a fourth-and-1 stop – from winning the Super Bowl.
So expect another plea to CEO Jed York for his blessing on free agency spending, for another run at the franchise’s sixth Lombardi Trophy – three decades after their fifth title.
This goes beyond budgeting for a Brandon Aiyuk extension at, say, $25 million or more per year — the going rate for a top-flight wide receiver.
Where could they strike for this year’s big shot? Odds are it will be a lineman – offense or defense, on the edge or in the interior. Don’t rule out other areas of need: cornerback, wide receiver, tight end, linebacker and return specialist. Linemen could be the priciest.
If the 49ers go after a franchise-tagged player again, eight exist this year, including edge rushers Josh Allen (Jaguars) and Brian Burns (Panthers), and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (Chiefs).
Other defensive linemen slated to hit free agency: Chris Jones (Chiefs), Danielle Hunter (Vikings), Jonathan Greenard (Texans), Bryce Huff (Jets), Leonard Floyd (Bills), Yannick Ngakoue (Bears), Andrew Van Ginkel (Dolphins), Jadeveon Clowney (Ravens), and, Romeo Okwara (Lions). All pale in comparison to the potential pairing of Nick Bosa with his older brother Joey, whose tenure with the Los Angeles Chargers could be in financial peril but also would cost the 49ers another chunk of equity.
When it comes to offensive linemen, this 49ers regime has shied away from multi-year moves in free agency, aside from center Weston Richburg in 2018; left tackle Trent Williams arrived via trade as the 2020 draft ended. Laken Tomlinson, two years after leaving for the New York Jets’ riches, is available and likely more affordable.
Historically, the 49ers haven’t been afraid of a “big move” at the turn of each league year in March. A quick recap from the Lynch/Shanahan regime:
2017: The massive roster overhaul began with a parade of free agent arrivals, led by Pierre Garçon, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, and kicker Robbie Gould. Brian Hoyer arrived as their bridge quarterback, until Jimmy Garoppolo came aboard in an October trade.
2018: After making Garoppolo the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback, the 49ers dipped into free agency for cornerback Richard Sherman, running back Jerick McKinnon, and Richburg.
2019: Ford, the Chiefs’ franchise-tagged pass rusher, came in exchange for a second-round pick (and an $85 million extension). Complementary parts for an NFC Championship run arrived in free agency with linebacker Kwon Alexander and running back Tevin Coleman.
2020: Trading defensive tackle DeForest Buckner for the Colts’ first-round pick backfired, but, in the 49ers’ defense, they were able to pay stalwarts Arik Armstead and Jimmie Ward while using that top pick on Javon Kinlaw. Free agency amid COVID’s outbreak trickled in only defensive end Kerry Hyder, guard Tom Compton, and wide receiver Travis Benjamin. Money, after all, still needed to go to George Kittle in an August extension (five years, $75 million).
2021: All the drama centered on the 49ers rewarding Williams with the largest contract for an NFL offensive lineman (six years, $138 million). Fullback Kyle Juszczyk also re-signed, and enough money was left over for the free agency pulls of center Alex Mack, linebacker Samson Ebukam, and defensive end Arden Key. By mid-July, Fred Warner got his second contract (five years, $95 million) as a homegrown star.
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2022: Free agency’s biggest prize was ex-Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward (three years, $42 million), and his 2023 Pro Bowl breakthrough could merit yet another raise. A month into 2022 free agency, Deebo Samuel requested a trade that would not be granted, and instead he came to training camp for his extension (three years, $71.5 million).
2023: Everyone knew the 49ers would indeed pay dearly for their defensive line’s star. Turns out, they’d do so twice. Free agency opened with them poaching the Eagles for defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (four years, $81 million). It took much longer until they paid up days before the regular season opener for Nick Bosa (five years, $170 million) as that year’s big retention extension.
“You want to invest in wherever you think makes you the best team,” Shanahan said last month. “You can sit there and load up on O-linemen and draft them three years in a row, and go spend on free agents, and then not have many people score touchdowns and things like that, or rush the quarterback. You can do a lot of that type of stuff. It just depends how it goes.”
