Trent Baalke on...
Free Agency - "We've never been big players in the early part of free agency. This year is no different. We feel good about the football team that we have. There are things we know we need to address and we will address."
Personnel/Cap Management - Trent Baalke said. "This move (on Kilgore's extension) is another example of our philosophy to extend the contracts of our own young players." Indeed, the 49ers have a history of signing promising backups to extensions before they step into starting roles. In December 2011, they worked out an extension with right guard Alex Boone, who has started the past two seasons. In March, they extended nose guard Ian Williams, who started the first two games in 2013 before he sustained a broken ankle. In November, they signed cornerback Tramaine Brock to a four-year, $16 million extension. Brock assumed a starting role near the end of the regular season.
Drafting/Player Evaluation - One of Baalke's favorite books, "Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking" by Malcolm Gladwell, helped the 49ers lead personnel man's approach to recent drafts, including the decision to select (Eric) Reid. Baalke explained the book's role in his draft evaluation process."The first time you look at a player, you're usually right," the general manager said. "Your gut is usually right. Through the process, you gather more and more information and you watch more and more film. And sometimes the process is so long and it's drawn out another two weeks that you end up talking yourself out of that first impression. So I always go back to the book. If you've read it, you understand where I'm coming from. And if you haven't, you should. It's a great book."
Year-round Planning - This is simply how the 49ers operate (re: the Draft board 65% done by March 1st) in "offseason" mode. Preparations are year-round, leaving little room for sudden alterations. This is an excellent article for how this FO also prepared for CK's cap hit as well: Read more at http://sfo.scout.com/2/1381221.html
Paraag Marathe on...
Contract Negotiation Philosophy - "Both sides in a contract negotiation, both sides are using analytics and data to help support -- it's confirmation bias to the max, everybody's trying to find evidence that supports whatever theory or contract demand they want to make," he said. "They can cut it and slice it in a lot of ways that help you. "Here's one that may not help them as much (on ESPN the Magazine article noting CK's 54.6% under pressure last season, the worst mark in the NFL. Meanwhile, he was sacked on 20.2% of snaps when under duress, the fourth-worst rate among starters), so that's why I'm looking forward to reading it." Later in the discussion, Marathe was asked more generally about the importance of a quarterback to a team's success. "That's the single biggest differentiator," he said. "If you can get by with average talent, but if you have a superior quarterback, you'll see the best quarterbacks -- the Hall of Fame quarterbacks -- it doesn't matter what kind of talent they have, even if they have really bad talent around them, they're going to finish 7-9 [or] 8-8. They're never going to go 3-13."
Jim Harbaugh on...
Contract Extensions/Relationship with Baalke/Jed - "I've told my owner I don't want any more power," he said. Harbaugh on Baalke and the amount the talk/communicate: "daily, hourly." "We're both demanding and we want to be accountable for ourselves, for each other," Harbaugh said. "If you haven't had a brother, you probably don't understand the relationship between the GM and the head coach. We're partners on the same team. I have great respect for him. He works extremely hard at it and is very good at it. We are all part of a team. I believe in the structure we have. I don't want to change anything that we do in that regard." Harbaugh, the third highest-paid coach in the NFC West, insisted he's content with his $5 million annual salary...but thetre is no timetable for an extension. "What I do know is this: I make plenty of money," Harbaugh said. "And I don't do five times as much work as any other coach on the staff. I get paid extremely well. Jed York has always been square dealing with me. I don't think about that as an issue I've seen it written like fact: 'Harbaugh wants to be the highest paid coach in football', or 'desperately covets a new contract.' For the record: I make plenty of money. I mean, plenty of money.'" "Zero opportunity or chance of that in my mind (leaving the 49ers)."
Losses:
Defensive Assistant/Outside Linebackers Coach, Peter Hansen
Coaches Tim Drevno & Paul Wulff
OL Jonathan Goodwin (35 @ $3.16M) - Cut
SS Donte Whitner - Signed with the loser Browns for 4-year, $28M range, per @RapSheet. AB81Rules expected that we'd resign him to a 3-year deal, worth $15M, a $5M base average (good reference for how much the Brown's are getting ripped off).
CB Terell Brown - Signed a 1-year $3.5M contract with the loser, Raiders.
CB Carlos Rogers - Released and will be completely off the books accounting for an extra $6.6M on June 1st in salary cap relief. Also signed with the loser Raiders (where Niner's go to die - the Black Hole).
WR Mario Manningham - Signed with the loser Giants.
RB Anthony Dixon - Signed with some loser team like the rest.
QB Colt McCoy - Unrestricted and gone (27 @ $1.44M); signed with the Redskins.
FB Alex Debniak & WR Brandon Carswell - Cut
OLB Darius Fleming, DT Christian Tupou, WR DeMarco Sampson & CB Dax Swanson - Cut
CB Eric Wright - Retired
G Fou Fonoti - Waived, injured
QB Kory Faulkner - Waived
WR Jon Baldwin - Waived
Morris/Seymour/Winston - Notable losses to the Texans & Browns
WILL Aldon Smith - Lost to a 9-game suspension
RB LaMichael James - Granted his release
DE DeMarcus Dobbs - Waived
RB Marcus Lattimore - Retired
LDE Ray McDonald - Cut
Neutral:
ST/WR Kassim Osgood - Will be on-again, off-again for ST needs all year
QB Josh Johnson - Will be on-again, off-again for QB needs all year
ST/S Bubba Ventrone - Will be on-again, off-again for QB needs all year
Gains/Moves:
Clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the agents of players who are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents. No contracts can be signed until March 11 at 1 p.m. (PT).
Another great resource for contract details: http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/yearly/
2015 Draft Picks - # 7 inlcuding the 4th back that we lost for Stevie Johnson.
2014 Draft Picks - 11 picks with 6 in the first 100.
CB Tramaine Brock - Signed to a 4-year, $16M extension (last 2013 move back in November)
WR Jon Baldwin - Base salary in 2014 is now $645k (down from $1.4M). $755 available in (unreachable) incentives.
S Craig Dahl - Base salary has been reduced from $1.35M down to $825,000. That would be a $525,000 savings, plus he may have had his $250,000 roster bonus, and $50,000 workout bonus eliminated, which would make the savings as much as $825,000.
C Daniel Kilgore - The 49ers signed Kilgore, 26, to 3-year extension today that could keep the 2011 fifth-round pick with the team through 2017. The contract averages $1.8M per season with escalators of $900K available in the last two years, plus $900K in incentives in '17. DK's 2014 base is guaranteed and he also has a separate $600K roster bonus due April 1st, 2015 guaranteed for injury.
WR Anquan Boldin - Signed a two-year contract @ $12M with $9M guaranteed. Matt Maiocco: Anquan Boldin's first year cap number is $2.364M. Deal is actually 5 years (for cap reasons) but voids after 2 years.
Secondary/Assistant Defensive Coach Ed Donatell - Agreed to a two-year deal. If Donatell signed just a one-year extension, he could have been a candidate for defensive coordinator jobs next year. But the 49ers coveted him and clearly made it worth his while to stick around for the next two years.
Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio - The FO has extended Fangio through 2015.
ILB Michael Wilhoite - Exclusive rights (will be back).
13 players signed to reserve/future contracts - Those players include: QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson, RB Jewel Hampton, WR Devon Wylie, WR DeMarco Sampson, WR David Reed, WR Chuck Jacobs, OG Al Netter, OT Carter Bykowski, DT Christian Tupou, NT Mike Purcell, CB Dax Swanson, SS D.J. Campbell & P Colton Schmidt
DE Demarcus Dobbs - #49ers expected to place lowest level tender ($1.4M) on RFA defensive end Demarcus Dobbs. First reported by @TomPelissero.
K Phil Dawson - AB81Rules projected a 1-year deal, worth $2.5M, with a $1M signing bonus, a $100,000 workout bonus, and a $1.4M base salary. Updating previous reports, San Francisco 49ers PK Phil Dawson received a two-year, $6.134 million deal with a $2 million signing bonus. He receives $3 million in the first year and can earn $25,000 in incentives each year.
SS Antoine Bethea - #49ers have reached agreement with Antoine Bethea on a four-year deal worth $21M per MB. Per AB81Rules: 2014- $3M ($1.25M base, $1.25M prorated bonus, $400K roster, and $100K workout)2015- $4.75M ($3M base, $1.25M prorated bonus, $400K roster, and $100K workout)2016- $5.75M ($4M base, $1.25M prorated bonus, $400K roster, and $100K workout)2017- $7M ($5.25M base, $1.25M prorated bonus, $400K roster, and $100K workout). 2014 base is fully guaranteed, 2015 is on signing, becomes fully on April 1 2015.
QB Blaine Gabbert - Adam Schefter, Jacksonville traded him to SF for a 6th round pick, per sources @ $2M a year; expected to rework final year of his original contract to, potentially, serve as backup.
CB Eric Wright - Resigns to a 1-year contract. Details pending.
OT Jonathan Martin - The Dolphins will get a seventh-round pick in 2015 if Martin is on the opening day roster this season. The 49ers play so many six-man O-line sets (used to be Daniel Kilgore's job who is now poised to start at center), so they needed another quality sixth man." He also doubles as our swing-T and will compete with OT Luke Marquardt.
CB Chris Cook - As expected, newly added cornerback Chris Cook signed a one-year deal for the league minimum $730,000, according to NFLPA records. He will count $570,000 against the salary cap.
CB Chris Culliver - A source told CSNBayArea.com the 49ers plan to enter into talks with Culliver's representation on a contract extension this offseason. Culliver is entering the final season of his rookie deal.
FB Bruce Miller - $645,000, along with new base salaries of $1.1 million in 2015, $1.25 million in 2016, and $1.45 million in 2017, he also received a $1.786 million signing bonus.He also is eligible for $160,000 per game roster bonuses in 2015-2017, along with $40,000 workout bonuses in 2015-2017. He also has $200,000 escalators for 2015-2017, base on making the pro bowl the previous year.The 3-year extension is worth $5.4 million.
ST/WR Kassim Osgood - Osgood getting $955k base, $20k first game roster bonus.
CB Perrish Cox - Has agreed to terms on one-year deal, source said (per MM).
WILL Aldon Smith (FYI) - We picked up his 2015 5th-year option, worth $9.754 million, which doesn't hurt the 2014 salary cap in any way. According to MM, with the 5th-year option signed, we have him signed for 2014 and 2015. In short, we don't expect to sign him long-term any time soon. We get him cheaper now for 2 years than if we had signed him to an early LT contract and we always have the option to place the Franchise Tag on him in 2016 & 2017. Technically we could have him for 2014, 2015 at a cheap rate for a premier pass rusher and tag him in 2016 and 2017 without having to sign him to a long term deal. Good business sense. The 49ers would like to complete Kaepernick's new contract before the start of training camp in late-July.
WR Brandon Lloyd - Lloyd's contract with the 49ers consists of the veteran minimum $955,000 base salary with $50,000 available through a workout bonus. His contract includes no signing bonus, the source said. He has more than the allowable amount of incentives in his contract, a source said, which means the 49ers do not receive the minimum salary benefit. Lloyd's deal counts $1.005 million against the 49ers' salary cap.
WR Stevie Johnson - 6'2" 210 and runs a 4.45 (Revis & Dick-Shaker) for a conditional 4th/3rd round pick in 2015. 3 straight seasons of 1,000. Cap numbers are $3.925M ('14), $6.025M ('15), and $6.125M ('16).
ILB Chase Thomas - Back with the Stanford coaches.
ST Blake Costanzo - MB & MM report that he and the Tony Montana Hit Squad have rejoined the team.
G/T Al Netter - resigned.
OT Joe Staley - signed an extension through 2019.
RB Alfonso Smith
OT Michael Philipp
OLB (SAM) Ahmad Brooks - RT @Jason_OTC: Looks like OLB Ahmad Brooks has restructured contract with #49ers, creating just over $2M in cap.
WR L'Damian Washington
RB Glenn Winston
LB Kion Wilson
NT Glenn Dorsey - Ian Rapoport â€@RapSheet 3h. In other news, that extension #49ers gave DT Glenn Dorsey yesterday is for 2 more years worth $6.1M in new money with $2.6M guaranteed. He is now signed through 2016. Ian Williams is signed through 2015.
RG Alex Boone - According to bleacher report Boone secures 2.3 M raise over next 2 years and can't be franchise tagged in 2016.
ST/WR Kassim Osgood - Brought back on a cheaper contract after initially being cut. Also, Glenn Dorsey was moved to the I.R. (designation-for-return) list.
LDE Ray McDonald - The 49ers restructured and dropped Ray McDonald's salary-cap figure from $5.346M to $3.23M for this season.
TE Xavier Grimble & CB Leon McFadden - Signed to the practice squad. To make room on the practice squad, the team has waived CB Chance Casey & OLB Shayne Skov.
G Andrew Tiller - Signed to the PS and we waived T John Fullington.
RB Kendall Hunter - Was resigned today through 2015
CB Chance Casey - Resigned
RB Alfonso Smith -Resigned
RB Phillip Tanner - Signed
ILB Desmond Bishop - Signed
CB Cameron Fuller - Signed
2014 Draft:
1. (1)(30): CB/S Jimmie Ward, Northern Illinois. 4 years, $7.112M, including $3.492 million signing bonus. Note: Total of $5.722 million, including his first three years' salary, is fully guaranteed against skill, injury and cap. 2014 cap figure: $1.293 million.
2. (2)(57): RB Carlos Hyde, Ohio State. 4 years, $3.681M, including $997,584 signing bonus. Note: Total of $1.954 million, including first two years' salary, is fully guaranteed against skill, injury and cap. 2014 cap figure: $669,396.
3. (3)(70): C Marcus Martin, USC. 4 years, $3.058M, including $671,252 signing bonus. 2014 cap figure: 587,813.
4. (3)(77): ILB Chris Borland, Wisconsin. 4 years, $2,897M, including $617,436 signing bonus. 2014 cap figure: $574,359.
5. (3)(100): C/G Brandon Thomas, Clemson. 4 years, $2.731M including $506,016 signing bonus. 2014 cap figure: $546,504.
6. (4)(106): WR Bruce Ellington, S. Carolina. 4 years, $2.694M, including $474,428 signing bonus. 2014 cap figure: $538,607.
7. (4)(129): CB Dontae Johnson, N. Carolina State. 4 years, $2.620M, including $400,544 signing bonus. 2014 cap figure: $520,136.
8. (5)(150): OLB Aaron Lynch, South Florida. 4 years, $2.418M, including $198,000 signing bonus. 2014 cap figure: $469,500.
9. (5)(170): CB Keith Reaser, Florida Atlantic. 4 years, $2.384M, including $164,800 signing bonus. 2014 cap figure: $461,200.
10. (6)(180): CB Kenneth Acker, SMU. 4 years, $2.340M, including $120,600 signing bonus. 2014 cap figure: $450,150.
11. (7)(243): DE Kaleb Ramsey, Boston College. 4 years, $2.268M, including $48,200 signing bonus. 2014 cap figure: $432,050.
12. (7)(245): FB Trey Millard, Oklahoma. 4 years, $2.267M, including $47,148 signing bonus. 2014 cap figure: $431,787
UDFA's:
Kory Faulkner QB
Shayne Skov ILB
Morgan Breslin OLB - Cut
L.J. McCray S
Asante Cleveland TE
Dillon Farrell C
Fou Fonoti OT
Read more at http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/nfl-draft/178469-top-udfa-signings-tracker/
The Current 53:
Offense: (Injured)
QB: Colin Kaepernick; Blaine Gabbert & Josh Johnson
RB: Alfonso Smith; Phillip Tanner (Frank Gore & Carlos Hyde)
H-Back: Asante Cleveland
TE: Vernon Davis
FB: Bruce Miller
X: Anquan Boldin; Brandon Lloyd
Y (SLOT): Quinton Patton; Stevie Johnson
Z: Michael Crabtree; Bruce Ellington
LOT: Joe Staley
ROT: Jonathan Martin; (Anthony Davis)
LG: Mike Iupati; Andrew Tiller
RG: Alex Boone; Joe Looney
C: Joe Looney; Dillon Farrell (Marcus Martin)
Defense: (Injured)
RDE: Justin Smith
LDE: Tank Carradine; Tony Jerrod-Eddie
NT: Quinton Dial
WILL: Aldon Smith; Dan Skuta & Corey Lemonier
SAM: Aaron Lynch; (Ahmad Brooks)
MIKE: Nick Moody; Desmond Bishop
TED: Michael Wilhoite
RCB: Dontae Johnson; Keith Reaser (Chris Culliver)
LCB: Perrish Cox; Marcus Cromartie (Tramaine Brock)
SLOT/NICKLE: Leon McFadden
FS: Eric Reid; Craig Dahl & Bubba Ventrone
SS: Antoine Bethea; L.J. McCray
Special Teams:
LS: Kyle Nelson
PK: Phil Dawson
P: Andy Lee
PR/KOR: Bruce Ellington; Perrish Cox & Carlos Hyde
Injured Reserve:
RB: Kendall Hunter
WR Kassim Osgood
WR: Chuck Jacobs
TE: Vance McDonald
TE: Derek Carrier
TE: Garrett Celek
G: Fou Fonoti
C: Daniel Kilgore
NT: Glenn Dorsey
NT: Ian Williams
ILB: Patrick Willis
ILB: NaVorro Bowman
ILB: Chris Borland
CB: Kenneth Acker
CB: Chris Cook
DB: Jimmie Ward
OT: Luke Marquardt
Reserve/Non Football Injury:
FB: Trey Millard
OG: Brandon Thomas
CB: Keith Reaser
Reserve/Physically Unable To Perform
DE: Kaleb Ramsey
Practice Squad:
OT Chris Martin
WR Lance Lewis
TE Xavier Grimble
RB Kendall Gaskins
NT Mike Purcell
DE Lawrence Okoye
OLB Shane Skov
OLB Chase Thomas
CB Cameron Fuller
Cap Ramifications/Potential Cuts:
No updates after Boone's extension and McDonald's restructure.
Week 2:
Kickoff Coverage Unit (Defensive Team)
We kick off:
25 Ward, Jimmie
96 Lemonier, Corey
46 Carrier, Derek
50 Borland, Chris
14 Osgood, Kassim
09 Dawson, Phil
54 Moody, Nick
22 Cook, Chris
31 McCray, L.J.
43 Dahl, Craig
36 Johnson, Dontae
Kickoff Return Unit (Offensive Team) #1
They kick off: Deep in their territory
10 Ellington, Bruce
49 Miller, Bruce
50 Borland, Chris
14 Osgood, Kassim
54 Moody, Nick
63 Jerod-Eddie, Tony
59 Lynch, Aaron
22 Cook, Chris
43 Dahl, Craig
46 Carrier, Derek
31 McCray, L.J.
Kickoff Return Unit (Offensive Team) #2
They kick off: Deep in our territory
10 Ellington, Bruce
49 Miller, Bruce
50 Borland, Chris
14 Osgood, Kassim
54 Moody, Nick
63 Jerod-Eddie, Tony
43 Dahl, Craig
46 Carrier, Derek
31 McCray, L.J.
89 McDonald, Vance
51 Skuta, Dan
Punt Coverage Unit (Defensive Team)
We punt:
04 Lee, Andy
25 Ward, Jimmie
31 McCray, L.J.
43 Dahl, Craig
49 Miller, Bruce
51 Skuta, Dan
57 Wilhoite, Michael
54 Moody, Nick
86 Nelson, Kyle
96 Lemonier, Corey
14 Osgood, Kassim
Punt Coverage Unit (Offensive Team) #1
They punt: Deep in their territory
10 Ellington, Bruce
14 Osgood, Kassim
25 Ward, Jimmie
28 Hyde, Carlos (22 Cook, Chris)
31 McCray, L.J.
36 Johnson, Dontae
43 Dahl, Craig
46 Carrier, Derek
50 Borland, Chris
54 Moody, Nick
59 Lynch, Aaron
Punt Coverage Unit (Offensive Team) #2
They punt: Deep in our territory
10 Ellington, Bruce
22 Cook, Chris
14 Osgood, Kassim
52 Willis, Patrick
43 Dahl, Craig
95 Williams, Tank
54 Moody, Nick (?)
92 Dial, Quinton
63 Jerod-Eddie, Tony
59 Lynch, Aaron
36 Johnson, Dontae
Total Current Cap Figure: As of 9/8/2014 (reference, AB81Rules)
The 49ers are $5.025M under the cap. I'm unsure if this figure counts Boone's current return/new contract.
The cap is set at $133M for 2014. Any team can carry over unused salary cap room from the prior League Year.
Read more at AB81Rules: http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/niners/98000-2014-49ers-salaries-5244-million-under-cap/
Read more at Over The Cap: http://overthecap.com/salary-cap/san-francisco-49ers
2015 Team Needs: (Order of Tier Importance: Top Tier, Second Tier & Third Tier)
Top Tier: No particular order within the tiers...
#1 HC/OC + Staff - New HC/OC with a professional offensive system and proven coaching staff. Many of the offensive picks will be based on players who fit that new system (i.e. WCO).
#2 Z WR/Dynamic Returner - This may be priority #1 for personnel. We could probably use a speedster as well as a bigger-bodied possession WR who's got top-talent to pair with Boldin/Johnson.
#3 QB - Veteran backup and hand-picked QB by the HC/OC in round 2 to fit the offensive system and develop over time (and push CK).
#4 LCB & RCB/Dynamic Returner - This could be a top pick if Cox, Culliver & Cook take off esp. if he doubles as a dynamic returner. This could drop down a tier with the long-term signings of either Culliver, Cox and Cook (or all 3).
#5 LT & RT - You can never have too many good T's.
Second Tier:
#6 SAM - This will be a bigger priority if Brooks is cut.
#7 TED - Will need another backup if Wilhoite is gone.
#8 RB - Whether Frank stays or goes, the new HC/OC may still want to go with Hyde and will draft another RB just in case for his system.
#9 TE - We could us a tall 6'6" TE who can catch for the RZ and to split out wide.
#10 LG - Could use a push-player here.
#11 RDE - Could use a top talent here as well to be safe.
Third Tier:
# 12 NICKLE CB - It couldn't hurt to push the group we have already.
Overall: I see 14 "needs" with many being taken care of well before the draft (i.e. resignings and restructuring of our own players such as Cox, Culliver, Cook, Smith, Gore, Brooks, Wilhoite, etc.). I anticipate much cap space opening up as well for us with some of these aging players moving on and the continued development of our youth-movement. I figure by the time we get to the draft, 1/2 of these 14 needs will be shored up in FA whether in-house or outside. Translastion: This is already a stacked roster, it's now an even more experienced roster due to all the injuries this year and cheap!
[ Edited by NCommand on Dec 17, 2014 at 4:35 PM ]