The 49ers now head into the 2024 NFL season with a little more financial wiggle room than expected.
The NFL declared on Friday that the salary cap for 2024 has been set at $255.4 million per team, up over $30 million from the previous season and by far the greatest rise of any year since the cap’s inception in 1994.
Even though the 49ers now have one of the largest payrolls in the NFL, their current active contracts are expected to put them slightly over the threshold at $4.6 million.
Many of the team’s 21 free agents won’t be back, but the 49ers will give priority to a select handful as they decide how to allocate their money. They also has the ability to convert some of their most expensive player salaries into signing bonuses in order to manipulate their cap amount, something they historically have done.
Here’s a look at a few players and positions that will require a very close look from the 49ers as they attempt to set their 2024 roster:
WR Brandon Aiyuk
Aiyuk technically is under contract through the 2024 season, but like Nick Bosa last season and Deebo Samuel the year prior, Aiyuk likely will not step foot on the 49ers practice field until an extension has been inked.
After being named to the Second Team All-Pro for the first time in his NFL career, the Arizona State product, who caught 75 receptions for a career-high 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns this season, will be vying for a well-earned top-dollar extension.
In addition to averaging 17.9 yards per reception and a 71.4 percent catch rate, Brock Purdy’s preferred target earned PFF’s second-highest offensive grade (91.5) among NFL wide receivers. Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins is the only player with a higher grade (93.4) for the 2023 campaign.
The 49ers are more likely to be able to come to an agreement to keep Aiyuk in the Bay Area for the foreseeable future given the significant increase in cap space.
WR Jauan Jennings
Jennings might not have comparable stats to Aiyuk, but what the physical wideout does best is not measurable written down. In addition to wearing down opposing defensive backs and linebackers, the seventh-round draft pick of 2023 made 12 of his 19 receptions for a first down.
The Tennessee native is also essential to coach Kyle Shanahan’s run game strategy. After playing 142 plays as a run blocker, Jennings received PFF’s highest grade for an NFL wide receiver in the outside zone.
Reaching a deal with Jennings is almost as crucial for San Francisco as signing Aiyuk since he is an unrestricted free agent, giving the 49ers the first say in any offer from another team.
Wide receiver
Ray-Ray McCloud and Chris Conley are the remaining 49ers wide receivers who will enter free agency. While Shanahan has been impressed with both, San Francisco likely will be looking for improved production from Ronnie Bell as the returner and Danny Gray as a deep threat. Both remain under contract in 2024.
Defensive line
The 49ers’ defensive front has the highest number of players entering free agency of any position on the roster. They are also the most expensive. Randy Gregory and Chase Young both will demand financially prohibitive numbers for San Francisco, but there are a few other players that the club could target in light of the higher salary cap.
Clelin Ferrell will return to action next season after successful knee surgery and is a candidate for a short-term contract that could be beneficial for both sides. The Clemson product had a productive season after signing a signed a $2.5 million one-year contract after spending four seasons with the Los Vegas Raiders.
Kevin Givens and Javon Kinlaw are other possible targets that the 49ers might be able to afford to keep on a temporary basis. During the lengthy playoff run, Kinlaw—who for the first time in his career participated in a full 17-game season—possibly played his greatest football.
Kinlaw would benefit from re-signing with the 49ers since it would demonstrate that his continued good health was not an anomaly and would help him develop his CV in the hopes of landing a bigger, longer-term contract in 2025.
Defensive back
The 49ers released Isaiah Oliver with one season left on his two-year contract Friday. They were hoping the former Atlanta Falcon would become the starter in nickel situations. He appeared in all 17 regular-season games for San Francisco, but started only six.
The 49ers’ starting cornerbacks are firmly established as Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir, with Ji’Ayir Brown and a healthy Talanoa Hufanga starting at safety. However, a nickel back who can assist Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw at the second level is still needed.
The 49ers’ other defensive backs that will be eligible for free agency include Terrance Mitchell, Logan Ryan, and Tashaun Gipson. However, it is more likely that they will employ their extra cap money elsewhere.Darrell Luter, Sam Womack, and Ambry Thomas are still available and could see more playing time in 2024.
Offensive line
Jon Feliciano, Ben Bartch and Matt Pryor are the only offensive linemen of the group who are headed to free agency.
Of the three, Feliciano is the only one with significant playing time in 2023, and after a very public outing of teammate Spencer Burford on social media after the Super Bowl, the 49ers might choose to go in a different direction.
The 2024 draft class also is rich in offensive line candidates, which also lowers the odds of the 49ers re-signing their free agents.
Linebacker
Warner and Greenlaw are the expected starters at the position, but the 49ers may prioritize re-signing a player who is familiar with the scheme given the uncertainty surrounding Greenlaw’s recovery from his Achilles injury sustained in the Super Bowl.
Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and Oren Burks are scheduled to make their free agency debuts, and the linebacker position is not particularly strong in this year’s NFL Draft. A slightly more reasonable option with a little more salary cap space would be one or both of the 49ers’ experienced linebackers.
Tight end
For the 49ers, George Kittle is undoubtedly the starter, but Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley are also scheduled to become free agents. San Francisco selected both Cameron Latu and Braden Willis in the 2023 draft in an attempt to increase depth at tight end, but neither of the young players has shown much promise.
The 49ers should prioritize developing their second-year players over re-signing their experienced tight ends, but a return is not completely out of the question given that Dwelley has had one-year contracts with San Francisco for the past four seasons.
Quarterback
Brock Purdy is the 49ers’ clear starter but who will be tapped as his 2024 backup remains to be seen as both Sam Darnold and Brandon Allen will be looking for new deals. Either or both are potential candidates to return on similarly affordable one-year agreements.
Running back
In Shanahan’s run-first oriented approach, Christian McCaffrey, the current NFL Offensive Player of the Year, is signed through the 2025 season. Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell will also be backfield players that carry the ball for McCaffrey.
Ty Davis-Price agreed to a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday, according to his agent, so the 49ers will probably look to the later stages of the selection to add depth.
