On Tuesday, the San Francisco 49ers created $9.5 million in salary cap space by restructuring the contract of linebacker Fred Warner. The deal remains a five-year one worth $95.225 million, and the player remains signed through the 2026 season.
However, much of Warner's 2023 base salary has been converted to a signing bonus, paying him that amount immediately but allowing the 49ers to spread the salary-cap impact of the amount throughout the length of the contract. In Warner's case, the impact of the signing bonus will go beyond 2026, as the 49ers added a void year in 2027.
Warner's 2023 salary cap number reduces from about $18.5 million to $9.049 million. OverTheCap.com currently lists the 49ers as $12,281,688 under the cap. The salary cap site provided the following breakdown of the remaining years of Warner's deal.
2023
Base salary: $1,080,000
Prorated bonus: $7,369,000
Per-game roster bonus: $500,000
Workout bonus: $100,000
Guaranteed salary: $0
Salary-cap number: $9,049,000
2024
Base salary: $15,300,000
Prorated bonus: $8,569,000
Per-game roster bonus: $500,000
Workout bonus: $100,000
Guaranteed salary: $0
Salary-cap number: $24,469,000
2025
Base salary: $17,650,000
Prorated bonus: $8,569,000
Per-game roster bonus: $500,000
Workout bonus: $100,000
Guaranteed salary: $0
Salary-cap number: $26,819,000
2026
Base salary: $17,650,000
Prorated bonus: $6,105,000
Per-game roster bonus: $500,000
Workout bonus: $100,000
Guaranteed salary: $0
Salary-cap number: $24,355,000
2027
Base salary: Void
Prorated bonus: $2,369,000
Salary-cap number: $2,369,000