49ers 2025 Salary Cap Thread, 2025 Cap Room=$26,988,068 as of 8/29/25

I need AB to hold me and tell me everything is gonna be alright

Originally posted by Waterbear:
I need AB to hold me and tell me everything is gonna be alright

cap wise? Yes, as long as they don't overpay or mortgage the future salary cap by redoing everyone just to sign a bunch of overpriced players.

Originally posted by AB81Rules:

Originally posted by Waterbear:
I need AB to hold me and tell me everything is gonna be alright

cap wise? Yes, as long as they don't overpay or mortgage the future salary cap by redoing everyone just to sign a bunch of overpriced players.

Can we give new contacts to Deebo, Bosa, DJ, and Tomlinson? Or will we probably lose Tomlinson or DJ?

Originally posted by Waterbear:

Originally posted by AB81Rules:

Originally posted by Waterbear:
I need AB to hold me and tell me everything is gonna be alright

cap wise? Yes, as long as they don't overpay or mortgage the future salary cap by redoing everyone just to sign a bunch of overpriced players.

Can we give new contacts to Deebo, Bosa, DJ, and Tomlinson? Or will we probably lose Tomlinson or DJ?

We can afford all 4 IMO, plus Aiyuk next year, just need to draft smart & be smart in FA, don't sign overpriced players that end up killing the cap down the road. I also believe they can keep Jordan Willis, Arden Key, & K'Waun Williams too, I'd imagine these deals would be cheaper, small sample size on Willis & Key, as for K'Waun, 30 or so. I wouldn't go more than 2yr for Willis, 4yrs for Key, & 3 yrs for K'Waun, for DJ I'd go 5yrs, Laken 4yrs or 5yrs.

We may have to choose between Al-Shaair & Greenlaw, while it'd be great to have 3 LBs, really good ones, it depends on price tag, if we could get both for under $10M a yr combined, I'd do it, but they might not be willing to do it.

Also if Laken re-signs, I doubt we sign someone like James Daniels or Alex Cappa, who I think will get anywhere from $8M-$12M a yr, it'd be tough to have two Guards making that kind of money.

Again for anyone who's worried, just read this article, keeping Bosa, Deebo, & Aiyuk is possible, as well as keeping DJ, Laken, Key, Willis, K'Waun, Al-Shaair, etc... https://49erscap.com/index.php/2022/02/13/an-updated-look-at-the-49ers-2022-salary-cap-situation-another-deep-look-at-the-49ers-2023-salary-cap-situation/

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by AB81Rules:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by AB81Rules:

Originally posted by NCommand:
Guess you can still buy a Superbowl, even in this era.

They got it handed to them with that BS holding call on the LB(Wilson), he didn't hold him, should have been 4th down.

Same stuff happened in our 2 Superbowl losses.

But as to roster construction, now we know, you can build like the Bengals or buy like the Rams and win it.

We're close. Do ShanaLynch want it? We'll find out soon.

I'm gonna stick with what the 49ers have done, build through the draft, supplement through free agency, they have to extend Bosa & Deebo this offseason, extend Aiyuk next offseason, plus they have key FAs they should or need to try to sign, they won't have cap room to go out & add many FAs, at least not high priced FAs, which are almost surely an overpay, & the player never lives up to the hype.

Again, I refuse to mortgage the future by bringing older vets, giving up premium picks or restructuring every contract cause it will catch up to you, look at NO, GB, DAL, & others are way over the cap, and they leave in FA.

Also, just because the Rams did this, in your eyes, by paying for it, there are many examples of teams who go all in by signing high priced FAs or trading picks, so, it can go either way, you can win both ways, let teams overpay FAs & trade their future away, they'll end up out of a job within a few years, if not the next.

This was more of an exercise of proving multiple ways of building a team. An extreme form in today's salary cap landscape where annually, the LA Rams are in the playoffs and now, pushed that extreme even harder and won the Superbowl because of it. They did it.

Other teams have built mostly through the draft and that can work too.

I think we're on the Seahawks path to being a playoff contender annually but never really in the mix for a real Superbowl contender or favorite.

I think this FO is going to have to get out of their comfort level and make a few more key moves to put this team over the top. They've got the salary cap guy to do it and they have the ability, like everyone else in the NFCW, to make dynamic trades and think outside the box.

Staying the course no longer should be the mantra unless this FO just wants to remain competitive but not with the top teams who really are doing everything they can to win a Superbowl.

Staying the course would've been riding with Jimmy and waiting until day 3 to get an O-lineman. It's clear they aren't interested in staying the course and Kyle definitely does not want to be a run, run, run team. You could see a difference in play calls as well as the throws attempted when Beathard and Mullens were back there. Now just imagine what it's going to be like with a talented QB. We have taken the Chiefs approach and its going to be interesting to compare how Lance plays through each quarter of the season (I hate this 17 game crap).

I also don['t get the Seattle comparison because Seattle had been suffering from talent drain and their top guys getting older and slowing down for years. We aren't anything like the Seahawks post 2014. We continue to add talent. They didn't. The Seahawks from 2014 -2020 are more like the 49ers from 95-98. Still a good team, still great players, but getting older, and not replacing talent as fast as they were losing talent. Just compare the position groups for our team in 2017 to 2019 to 2021. We clearly are better in every category except CB.

Originally posted by NinerGM:

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:
Staying the course would've been riding with Jimmy and waiting until day 3 to get an O-lineman. It's clear they aren't interested in staying the course and Kyle definitely does not want to be a run, run, run team. You could see a difference in play calls as well as the throws attempted when Beathard and Mullens were back there. Now just imagine what it's going to be like with a talented QB. We have taken the Chiefs approach and its going to be interesting to compare how Lance plays through each quarter of the season (I hate this 17 game crap).

I also don['t get the Seattle comparison because Seattle had been suffering from talent drain and their top guys getting older and slowing down for years. We aren't anything like the Seahawks post 2014. We continue to add talent. They didn't. The Seahawks from 2014 -2020 are more like the 49ers from 95-98. Still a good team, still great players, but getting older, and not replacing talent as fast as they were losing talent. Just compare the position groups for our team in 2017 to 2019 to 2021. We clearly are better in every category except CB.

Because it's the same or similar outcome - no SB while perennially being in the playoff conversation YOY. Pittsburgh? Same. Green Bay? Same. The difference is all those teams have proven FQB. We have a more talented roster but at some point that's going to not be possible to maintain cap-wise. The key is identify your weaknesses, build that 3-year squad and hope for the best. No guarantees because of injuries, BUT it's way more likely you're over the hump with GREAT talent + good coaching at critical positions than not.

The thing with Pittsburgh & Green Bay was that they kept restructuring Big Ben & Rodgers' deals, which led to the issues they're gonna be having, lucky for Pittsburgh their cap is fine now, but man the Packers, it's bad, like $50M over, same with the Saints, they kept redoing Drew Brees' deal, now it's caught up to them, last season $100M over, & you'd think they're good, nope $75M over the 2022 cap, you have to be smart, not reckless and throw money around at just anyone cause he's a big name, like OBJ, even before the ACL tear last night, no way I'm giving him top WR money.

Unless the 49ers end up getting a s**tload of credits like this past season, they'll be forced to redo 2 deals just to get under the cap, which will include having their ERFAs & RFAs tendered or re-signed, since they have to be cap compliant(under the cap) with Jimmy on the roster at 4PM EST March 16.

As for maintaining our players long term, remember that the cap will skyrocket in 2024, and likely go up $15M-$20M a season thanks to the new TV deals that begin in 2023, so keeping Deebo, Bosa, Aiyuk, while also having Trent, Warner, Kittle, Armstead on big money deals is doable, even keeping DJ, & Laken on long deals worth a good amount is doable, now can they sign a James Daniels or Alex Cappa this offseason, no, not if they re-sign Laken, you can't tie up $10M+ a year in 2 Guards, and expect to keep your guys.

Also this whole pipe dream of Rodgers or Brady, it doesn't make sense, 1. Rodgers will have to decide before FA opens, 2. Brady can't be traded or released until June 2nd without the Bucs losing cap room, & 3. if you bring in Rodgers or Brady, you're guaranteed to lose DJ, Laken, have issues with re-signing Aiyuk, & others, plus you sit Lance another year? What kind of contract will Rodgers want? Brady want? Won't fit under the cap, you can only do so much, and if the 49ers were to do a Bucs or Rams style, by redoing every deal every year to get Rodgers or Brady, and add high priced vets by trade they'll end up in the Packers or Saints situation.

Originally posted by NinerGM:
But teams are always going to do what's needed to keep their FQB, particularly if he's won or led them to a SB. You're always going to see that restructure. Yes Pitts cap is fine now because there's no more FQB and they're essentially rebuilding on offense after letting key players go. I think you're always going to be over the cap with a talented team. As for the cap's skyrocketing, so will player salaries. Each year someone wants to be paid the most and if you're contending you have at least 2 players that are in that conversation. Further we're talking about improving the current team so that means signing who we have theoretically while bringing in equal if not better talent and that's going to cost. Where?

CB
RG
OC (Mack is 36, and this being the most important position on the OL, we're going to need to pay to maintain or upgrade talent via FA).
Possibly RT (we hope McG who was somewhat average, even 100% returning from injury, would look to improve this spot).
Safety

Middle Tier/Bargain Bin Approach
I think you can be lucky to find a potential top performer on a cheap deal but chances are players know their worth and there's a reason why their cheap (coming off injury, off-field issues, etc.). We've tried our hand at this and it's been mixed at best with some significant downside, or worse pay a previously prime player as if he will be despite the history.

I think it's important to acknowledge what we have tried will get us incrementally closer to winning a championship but we have to ask do we actually have the talent to win a championship? I think to answer to both 2019 and 2021 teams have been no. I'm in favor of some smart risk-taking that may look terrible for our long-term cap for the right player/players.

I'm not for it, just because Pitt is ok now, and the FQB, the fact is redoing those deals, just to sign players is the reason why Pitt is rebuilding, and why GB, NO are way over the cap for 2022, this is the worst way to go, I don't get why people don't see it, the idea of Rodgers or Brady, we can't afford either plus bring back any FAs.

I'm all for trading or signing key players, but not at the risk of f**king the cap up in the future, did the late 90s & early 2000s not teach anyone why you don't redo deals over & over again? We were in cap hell, not anymore, if you go crazy in FA or trades, you're going back to the late 90s- early 2000s after the 49ers paid players under the table, it cost Eddie D the team, and f**ked our cap up.

Also is adding some overpriced vet worth losing Deebo, Bosa, Aiyuk? Cause that will happen, you sign some overpriced player long term, or keep redoing deals, we won't be able to keep them.

Originally posted by AB81Rules:
Again for anyone who's worried, just read this article, keeping Bosa, Deebo, & Aiyuk is possible, as well as keeping DJ, Laken, Key, Willis, K'Waun, Al-Shaair, etc... https://49erscap.com/index.php/2022/02/13/an-updated-look-at-the-49ers-2022-salary-cap-situation-another-deep-look-at-the-49ers-2023-salary-cap-situation/

Quickly, if we kept all the above, what would our available cap situation be, factoring in estimate for draft pick salaries?

Put it another way, what outside FA spending will we have if we keep our core FAs?

Originally posted by AB81Rules:
Also is adding some overpriced vet worth losing Deebo, Bosa, Aiyuk? Cause that will happen, you sign some overpriced player long term, or keep redoing deals, we won't be able to keep them.

Agreed. Though I'd feel a lot better if we can find a "mid-tier" veteran CB. Not saying to try and get a Jalen Ramsey-level CB, but someone that can hold up long enough for our pass rush to get there.

I'm talking guys like... Walt Harris in 2006, and in 2011, we signed Carlos Rogers to a one-year deal for $4.5M. I assume, with 11 years of inflation... that's like... $5, 6, 7, 8M in today's numbers? Can we afford to sign a guy like that and still resign a lot of our important guys?

Originally posted by AB81Rules:
Again for anyone who's worried, just read this article, keeping Bosa, Deebo, & Aiyuk is possible, as well as keeping DJ, Laken, Key, Willis, K'Waun, Al-Shaair, etc... https://49erscap.com/index.php/2022/02/13/an-updated-look-at-the-49ers-2022-salary-cap-situation-another-deep-look-at-the-49ers-2023-salary-cap-situation/

Great article. That was a lot of moving parts, but I like the longterm look at both 2022 and 2023 as well as the rationale for who would get approached and who didn't. Looking at the roster, I really don't see the need to bring in a big FA and just don't see how they can when you take everything into account and articles like this spell out why it would be difficult to do this. It's not impossible, but I'd rather we not keep borrowing against future years because as we are going to see with the Saints, the bill will eventually come. I was surprised by you having Key getting a 4 year deal. What's the norm for a player that is only playing in a backup role? I suppose the benefit is that they can spread out the signing bonus over the length of the contract. At any rate, this is Paraag's biggest offseason yet.

Love reading all your analyses, AB!

Originally posted by NinerGM:

Originally posted by AB81Rules:
I'm not for it, just because Pitt is ok now, and the FQB, the fact is redoing those deals, just to sign players is the reason why Pitt is rebuilding, and why GB, NO are way over the cap for 2022, this is the worst way to go, I don't get why people don't see it, the idea of Rodgers or Brady, we can't afford either plus bring back any FAs.

I'm all for trading or signing key players, but not at the risk of f**king the cap up in the future, did the late 90s & early 2000s not teach anyone why you don't redo deals over & over again? We were in cap hell, not anymore, if you go crazy in FA or trades, you're going back to the late 90s- early 2000s after the 49ers paid players under the table, it cost Eddie D the team, and f**ked our cap up.

I'm not advocating screwing the cap for a cool decade and those teams weren't bad because we were cap strapped, those teams were also bad because of the coaching. I'd also add that the 49ers were had good teams in the late 90s. It wasn't until 2003 when Dennis Erickson took over was when things got pretty bad. Those late 90s Mariucci teams were pretty darn good and honestly, not at all different from where this current squad is today in terms of how deep they would get into the playoffs. I think there are levels of going into cap debt.

It wasn't just the cap in the 2003 and on, but it was the entire FUBAR with Walsh leaving the FO, Terry Donahue taking over, the entire organization was bad. And despite drafting high, the team really didn't come back until - well -better coaching (Harbs). And then sucked again with two bad coaches until Shanahan.

Green Bay has a HOF QB. You keep and extend an HOF QB. I just feel like the cap shouldn't be the goal, rather winning should be, putting together a team that can win it all. I'm not advocating paying players under the table. I'm just saying we can't be completely risk averse because what we're doing today isn't winning championships.

Originally posted by AB81Rules:
Also is adding some overpriced vet worth losing Deebo, Bosa, Aiyuk? Cause that will happen, you sign some overpriced player long term, or keep redoing deals, we won't be able to keep them.

It depends on who it is. Would I trade to acquire a FQB in this offense for Aiyuk in what will be a weak NFC next year? Yes, yes I would. Because ultimately at some point you won't be able to keep Deebo, Bosa, Aiyuk, Fred, Ward, Williams, et al anyway plus what we're eventually going to pay whoever plays at QB. Team talent ebbs and flows. It's just the way of the NFL. I think trying to maintain a dynasty with a perfect cap situation is very, very hard and only the Patriots have done it recently. I don't see KC following in their footsteps even with Mahommes. KC can easily become the Saints under Brees and Peyton.

I'd love to be in cap hell this year coming off celebrating a 6th World Championship because at the end of the day, it's not our money.

But I hear ya bud, I don't want cap hell for like 10 years.

I'd make the trade if we didn't already have Lance. We just saw Joe Burrow make a Super Bowl with far less to work with, on both offense and defense (and I mean talent across the board because Joe Burrow absolutely has talent at the receiver position). I think the sustainability will come from if they team can continue to add talent at the rate they are doing. For all of our All-Pros, or should be All-Pro players, only one was drafted in the first. Then outside of that group of 4, we have added players that play at a high level yearly. Will it win us a Super Bowl? I don't know, but the Rams didn't know before they won, neither did the Bucs, nor the Chiefs, Patriots, Eagles, Broncos, etc. What recent history is showing us is that both ways work very well (building a team- Patriots, Eagles, Chiefs) verses getting a high caliber veteran QB (Broncos, Rams). If we were going to do it, last season was it and we passed up on it.

I think people say that now, they'd rather be celebrating a Super Bowl, but I don't think fans of Kansas City or Tampa took that approach of hey, we just won in 2019/20, so it's all good that we got bounced from the playoffs. People really want to win every year. Honestly, all of this back and forth is pointless because nothing will really be settled until we see Trey get his shot at it for a season or 2.

Originally posted by NinerBuff:

Originally posted by AB81Rules:
Again for anyone who's worried, just read this article, keeping Bosa, Deebo, & Aiyuk is possible, as well as keeping DJ, Laken, Key, Willis, K'Waun, Al-Shaair, etc... https://49erscap.com/index.php/2022/02/13/an-updated-look-at-the-49ers-2022-salary-cap-situation-another-deep-look-at-the-49ers-2023-salary-cap-situation/

Quickly, if we kept all the above, what would our available cap situation be, factoring in estimate for draft pick salaries?

Put it another way, what outside FA spending will we have if we keep our core FAs?

Yeah, I'm all about signing our own but every team does that. And this isn't a Superbowl roster. So what can we ADD to our own to get us closer to striking distance? That's what the off season is all about.