Ten players are poised to consume $211.7 million of the San Francisco 49ers' 2024 salary cap. While the team is currently up against this year's salary cap limit, potential contract restructures could provide some flexibility. NFL teams must be under the league-mandated $255.4 million salary cap by Wednesday, March 13. Fortunately, only the top 51 salaries will count against the cap at that point.
An equal number of the 49ers' 10 most expensive players reside on each side of the ball, with the team's 11-time Pro Bowl and three-time first-team All-Pro offensive tackle set to consume the most salary cap space.
The top 10 players slated to take up most of the 49ers' 2024 salary cap are listed below, ranked from highest to lowest. These figures are sourced from the salary cap site OverTheCap.com.
OT Trent Williams
Cap hit: $31.57 million
Base salary: $20.05 million
Trent Williams' 2024 salary cap hit ranks second among all NFL offensive linemen, trailing only Green Bay Packers tackle David Bakhtiari's $40 million cap hit. Signed through the 2026 season, San Francisco has a potential out on Williams' deal this year, though it is unlikely to be exercised.
WR Deebo Samuel
Cap hit: $28.63 million
Base salary: $20.97 million
Deebo Samuel's 2024 salary cap hit ranks fifth among all NFL wide receivers. Having signed a three-year extension in 2022, he remains under contract through the 2025 season, with the 49ers holding a potential out on the deal following the upcoming season.
DT Arik Armstead
Cap hit: $28.35 million
Base salary: $17.41 million
Arik Armstead's 2024 salary cap hit ranks second among all NFL defensive linemen, behind only defensive tackle Aaron Darnold, who will cost $34.2 million against the Los Angeles Rams' cap. Armstead is scheduled to become a free agent after the upcoming season.
LB Fred Warner
Cap hit: $24.47 million
Base salary: $15.3 million
Fred Warner's 2024 salary cap hit ranks fifth among all NFL linebackers. Re-signed to a five-year extension in 2021, the linebacker is under contract through the 2026 season. While the 49ers have a potential out on his deal this year, they might explore restructuring it as a source of salary-cap savings.
TE George Kittle
Cap hit: $21.96 million
Base salary: $13.4 million
George Kittle's 2024 salary cap hit is the highest of all NFL tight ends, nearly $5.1 million more than the next most expensive player at the position, Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs. Kittle is signed through the 2025 season, and the 49ers have an out on his contract this year.
CB Charvarius Ward
Cap hit: $18.4 million
Base salary: $12.56 million
Charvarius Ward's 2024 salary cap hit ranks seventh among all NFL cornerbacks. He signed a three-year deal in 2022 and is only under contract through the upcoming season. While the 49ers have a potential out on Ward's deal this year, the team will likely look to find a way to sign its starting cornerback to a contract extension.
DT Javon Hargrave
Cap hit: $15.41 million
Base salary: $8.89 million
Javon Hargrave's salary-cap impact is manageable in 2024 but escalates to $26.6 million in 2025 and $28.3 million in 2026. The 49ers have a potential out on his deal next year.
DE Nick Bosa
Cap hit: $14.67 million
Base salary: $1.13 million
Nick Bosa signed a five-year extension last year and is a relative bargain in 2024. His salary cap hit jumps to $20.5 million in 2025 and more than double that amount in 2026. While he is signed through the 2028 season, the 49ers have a potential out on his deal in 2027.
RB Christian McCaffrey
Cap hit: $14.14 million
Base salary: $11.8 million
While Christian McCaffrey's 2024 base salary tops all NFL running backs, his salary cap hit ranks fourth among his position group. McCaffrey is signed through the 2025 season, and his cap hit remains relatively consistent over the next two seasons.
WR Brandon Aiyuk
Cap hit: $14.12 million
Base salary: $14.12 million
Brandon Aiyuk's 2024 salary cap hit could decrease if the 49ers sign him to a contract extension. As it stands, the star receiver is set to play on his fifth-year option, which guarantees him all of his $14.12 million salary. Aiyuk will hit free agency in 2025 unless a new deal is reached.