Though the San Francisco 49ers fell simply in need of a championship – once more – they’re nonetheless bringing again among the finest top-to-bottom rosters in your complete NFL. They’re poised to be Tremendous Bowl contenders once more, however have just a few huge strikes to make this offseason to create salary-cap area and keep long-term success. Right here is one commerce, one minimize and one signing the franchise needs to be contemplating.
TRADE: WR Brandon Aiyuk
This might be a troublesome transfer to make contemplating how vital Aiyuk has been to the 49ers offense, nevertheless it could be a necessity. Or at the very least a proactive transfer to assist place the crew for the long-term.
Aiyuk is coming into the ultimate 12 months of his contract and the 49ers may not have the salary-cap area to maintain him at size, particularly with quarterback Brock Purdy having a serious contract extension looming over the approaching years.
Placing Aiyuk in the marketplace might deliver again a big draft choose in return whereas additionally creating wage cap flexibility for the longer term. The tough actuality in a wage cap league is you cannot hold everyone, and generally you need to make powerful choices. He additionally may welcome the chance to be a No. 1 possibility in one other crew’s offense, one thing he will not actually have in San Francisco enjoying behind Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel.
CUT: LB Dre Greenlaw
If the thought of purchasing Aiyuk is tough to ponder, this may even downright inconceivable for 49ers followers. However once more, it could be a necessity given the the crew’s salary-cap state of affairs. Greenlaw has been a serious cog within the 49ers protection for the reason that begin of the 2019 season.
However he’s more likely to miss a good portion of subsequent season after struggling a torn Achilles within the Tremendous Bowl and will not be 100% efficient when he ultimately returns. Slicing Greenlaw, whereas harsh given his significance to the crew and his harm, would save the 49ers $6.8 million in salary-cap area this season. That might be huge financial savings for a crew that’s coming into the offseason with solely $6 million in salary-cap area.
SIGNING: G Robert Hunt
The 49ers don’t have any critical flaws or main weaknesses, however one space they may stand to improve is the proper aspect of their offensive line. Hunt, a key a part of Miami’s offensive line the previous couple of years, can be an excellent match without any consideration guard in San Francisco’s offense. He’s a mauling run-blocker and can be a giant improve over Spencer Burford and Jon Feliciano.
The 49ers don’t have a ton of salary-cap area with which to work – at the very least earlier than making any main cuts or trades – however Hunt may very well be properly inside their value vary as a mid-level free agent.
