Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports


A look at the 49ers’ 2016 free agents

Jun 12, 2015 at 10:23 AM3


Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
Minicamp for the San Francisco 49ers ended yesterday. Offseason practices have given general manager Trent Baalke an opportunity to observe key players and that will continue during the team's training camp in July, preseason, and even into the regular season. He's not just looking at the youngsters and new faces on the team. Baalke and his staff will also be keeping an eye on a number of veteran players who are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents in 2016.

Let's take a look at three of the key players who are heading into their contract year.

Vernon Davis
Tight End, 31 years old
2015 Cap Hit: $6,967,920

Davis' 2014 effort was disappointing. His numbers were some of the worst of his nine seasons in the league. Career lows included receiving yards (245) and average yards per reception (9.4). He tied his career low in touchdowns (2), which is especially disappointing considering that in 2013, he tied his career high (13) in that category. He also only had 26 total receptions for the season, which is his second lowest season total. His lowest came during his 2006 rookie season when he appeared in only 10 games.

Davis and quarterback Colin Kaepernick have been working during the offseason to reignite their chemistry. However, if that does not transfer over to the regular season, then the 49ers may be willing to part ways with Davis.

The team still has tight end Vance McDonald, whose contract does not expire until 2017 and will have a 2016 cap hit of only $1,145,193, and added tight ends Blake Bell and Rory Anderson in the draft. McDonald has not lived up to expectations so far, so look for the 49ers to throw some of the young guys into the mix because if Davis once again ends up with pedestrian numbers, it may be better to take a risk on one of their cheaper options.

Anquan Boldin
Wide Receiver, 34 years old
2015 Cap Hit: $6,909,000

There is no doubt that Boldin, even at age 34, remains one of the best players on the team. He will be 35 when he is scheduled to become a free agent in 2016. Well, technically his contract runs through 2018, but the last two years are likely to be voided. He led the team in receiving during each of his two seasons with the 49ers. During each of those years, he had over 1,000 yards receiving, which is something that he had not done while with the Baltimore Ravens and had not done since 2009 with the Arizona Cardinals.

Boldin still has a strong passion to play and, despite the offseason changes, still strongly believes in the team. "If you're not playing to win the championship, you don't need to be in this locker room," said Boldin while speaking to the media during minicamp.

Boldin will likely contribute as usual during the 2015 season. The question the team will have to ask is whether or not they want to pay for potential future contributions from a 35 year old wide receiver beyond that point.

During the offseason, the 49ers brought in another former Raven in Torrey Smith, who looks to be the team's number one receiver once Boldin's career in San Francisco is complete — maybe even sooner. The team let receivers Michael Crabtree, Stevie Johnson and Brandon Lloyd walk. However, they drafted DeAndre Smelter of Georgia Tech, who could be huge for the 49ers once he is fully recovered from his ACL injury, and have been impressed early by undrafted free agent DeAndrew White of Alabama.

The team will also take a good look at rookie Dres Anderson of Utah. Already on the roster were Quinton Patton, who has great potential but has yet to live up to it, and Bruce Ellington who has impressed during his limited playing time.

Aldon Smith
Outside Linebacker, 25 years old
2015 Cap Hit: $4,854,875

It may seem like a no brainer to bring back a pass rushing talent like Smith. However, this upcoming season will be a good opportunity for the team to see how Smith performs without the help of defensive line teammate Justin Smith, who recently retired.

Smith has been able to stay out of trouble since serving a nine game suspension in 2014. During his first three seasons, he averaged 14 sacks. This even includes 2013 when he appeared in only 11 games. In 2014, he had only two sacks in his seven game appearances.

Will Aldon Smith return to form with someone like Tank Carradine in front of him instead of Justin Smith? Have personal off-the-field struggles impacted his performance? Management will be keeping a close eye on Smith's efforts in 2015.

The 49ers drafted linebacker Eli Harold out of Virginia, brought in Philip Wheeler, and brought back Desmond Bishop. However, Wheeler and Bishop were signed to one-year contracts and will also be free agents in 2016. The team had been rumored to be shopping Ahmad Brooks, but those rumors died after the Patrick Willis and Chris Borland retirements — even though Brooks plays outside. The team is also comfortable with Aaron Lynch and Corey Lemonier, who replaced Smith while he sat out the majority of the team's recent minicamp with a minor foot injury.

Other Key Free Agents

Guard Alex Boone, kicker Phil Dawson, defensive tackle Ian Williams, and running back Kendall Hunter will also be unrestricted free agents in 2016. During the upcoming season, eyes will be on these players as well. It will be interesting to see how Hunter, a solid player prior to the ACL injury suffered before the 2014 season, performs when relieving scheduled starter Carlos Hyde. He has a career average of 4.6 yards per carry.

Cap Space

On Thursday, it was reported that the 49ers have $10,301,072 in cap space and two open roster spots. Linebacker Lance Briggs has been on the team's radar for some time. However, much of this money could be earmarked for potential contract extensions or free agent signings in 2016. The 49ers are typically good cap managers.

Unwilling to overpay, the 49ers let some key free agents walk in 2015 and are likely to do so again in 2016. Who those players are will depend on their performances and potential cost.

* Cap numbers from Spotrac.com
The opinions within this article are those of the writer and, while just as important, are not necessarily those of the site as a whole.


3 Comments

  • Arturo Bradley
    They have a projected 40M going into 2016 and a projected 65M into 2017, at this very moment. If they cut Brooks after 2015, its another 5-6M tacked on. Might have more than enough room to bring back Aldon, Boone, VDavis, and Boldin (if father time doesnt catch up to him).
    Jun 17, 2015 at 8:39 PM
    0
    Response: That's assuming there are no other transactions until 2017 and they let every free agent walk ... which won't happen. Looking that far into the future always (well, hopefully) gives you a lot of cap space because it only takes into account current contracts. I doubt the 49ers will maintain their $118 mil cap number in 2016 and their $98 mil cap number in 2017. That would leave them with a roster of about 35 players in 2017.
  • Dietrich from maui
    We are great at the comp pick formula
    Jun 12, 2015 at 7:51 PM
    0
  • RishikeshA
    Thanks David, If a player makes it through the season without an extension history tells us they're gone. I anticipate some deals to get done before during training camp and preseason. Any deal that is made you can be sure that it will be team friendly. The Yorks don't overpay. I'm curious to see what happens with Boone, he has some leverage with Davis' retirement and there is no way he signs a team friendly deal.
    Jun 12, 2015 at 7:42 PM
    0

Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News



49ers still favored to win Super Bowl 59 after first wave of free agency

By David Bonilla
Mar 20

After falling just short of championship glory in February, the San Francisco 49ers are eyeing another opportunity in Super Bowl 59, and oddsmakers are backing their ambitions. The latest defeat was the second unsuccessful Super Bowl trip of the Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch era. Now, the Niners own the best odds in the league (+550) to finally hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy once more. Super Bowl 59 will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The team that dashed the 49ers' championship dreams in February, the Kansas City Chiefs, boast the second-best odds (+600) in the NFL to win Super Bowl 59. Among the NFC West teams, the Los Angeles Rams have the next-best odds after the 49ers, with distant +3500 odds,



USA Today grades 49ers' initial free-agency moves

By David Bonilla
Mar 21

Nate Davis of USA Today Sports recently published his free-agency grades for each NFL team. It's been over a week since the start of the new league year, when players no longer under contract are allowed to sign with other organizations, hoping to prove to their former teams that letting them walk was a mistake. While the San Francisco 49ers didn't make any attention-grabbing additions like they did last year with the Javon Hargrave signing, they did shake things up along the defensive line. The Niners bid farewell to their longest-tenured player, Arik Armstead, releasing him for salary cap savings



49ers hosting safety Julian Blackmon on free-agency visit

By David Bonilla
Mar 21

Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz reports that free agent safety Julian Blackmon is visiting with the San Francisco 49ers today. Schultz wrote on social media, "Blackmon has several suitors after enjoying a career season with the Colts, which included 4 INTs." Free agent safety Julian Blackmon is visiting the #49ers today, sources tell @BleacherReport.Blackmon has several suitors after



PFF examines pros and cons of 49ers' free-agency moves

By David Bonilla
Mar 22

The San Francisco 49ers have primarily focused on bolstering their defense in free agency. This has included a significant overhaul of the team's defensive front, with notable departures such as Arik Armstead, Chase Young, and Clelin Ferrell. However, the 49ers managed to reinforce their defensive line with key signings, including Leonard Floyd, Yetur Gross-Matos, and Jordan Elliott. Additionally, they traded for Maliek Collins to help along the interior. Pro Football Focus recently analyzed the pros and cons of each team's free-agent acquisitions, indicating that San Francisco isn't expected to take a step back when it comes to rushing the passer. "Despite losing Arik Armstead and Chase Young,


Latest

More by David Bonilla

More Articles

Share 49ersWebzone