49ers offseason checklist: 10 moves to get back to the Super Bowl
The 49ers laid the groundwork for their run at the recent Super Bowl last offseason with a series of moves like drafting Nick Bosa and Deebo Samuel, trading for Dee Ford, bringing back Arik Armstead and Jimmie Ward, and finding a late-round gem in Dre Greenlaw.
Getting back to next year’s game in Tampa Bay won’t be easy. The journey starts with similar decisions facing the club this offseason. Let’s go through 10 that could get the 49ers back for a chance at their sixth Lombardi Trophy.
1. Make George Kittle NFL’s highest paid tight end
The All-Pro tight end is eligible for a contract extension for the first time now that he’s entering his fourth season. There’s no doubt he’ll reset the market when he inevitably gets his second contract. The question is: by how much? Kittle wasn’t just one of the best tight ends in football, he was one of the best overall players. His impact on the running game was nearly as noticeable as his threat as a pass catcher. Chiefs star Travis Kelce signed a five-year, $46.8 million extension prior to 2016 while Green Bay’s Jimmy Graham is the top annual earner at $10 million. Could Kittle average something like $14 million per season? It’s certainly possible.
2. Set precedent with DeForest Buckner
Coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have made a point to reward players who exemplify core values like productivity, professionalism, durability and leadership. Buckner checks all those boxes and has been one of the most underrated defensive linemen since he entered the league. He had 1.5 sacks and three more quarterback hits in the Super Bowl while playing 60 snaps (only Nick Bosa, 61, played more on the defensive line). Buckner’s entering his fifth-year option season, which means he’s unsigned beyond 2020. Buckner, who has missed just one game in four seasons while being among the league leaders in snaps played, deserves long-term security in the form of a new contract. The $17 million annual salary Fletcher Cox and Grady Jarrett got from the Eagles and Falcons, respectively, would be a good starting point. A new contract could serve an additional purpose: backloading the deal could create more cap space for the upcoming season the $14.4 million he’s scheduled to earn.
3. Figure out what to do with Arik Armstead
Arik Armstead was massively important to San Francisco’s defensive line during the Super Bowl run. He led the team with 10 sacks and has appeared in every game the last two seasons after missing 18 combined in 2016 and 2017. But given the team’s financial restrictions, along with the pending extensions for Buckner and Kittle, bringing Armstead back isn’t necessarily an easy decision. The 49ers currently have just under $20 million in cap room, according to Spotrac, while Armstead would likely cost over $19 million on the franchise tag with a defensive end designation. Armstead is a perfect fit for defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s unit and he’s versatile. He can pass rush from the interior and defend the run from the edges. But it’s fair to wonder if he’s worth that type of money, particularly since he never had more than three sacks in a season before 2019, his contract year.
4. Create a plan at receiver
One of the biggest offseason questions facing the 49ers revolves around pending free agent Emmanuel Sanders, who provided a noticeable boost to the passing game after being acquired from the Broncos. Jimmy Garoppolo’s 8.62 yards per attempt in the 10 regular season games with Sanders was second in the NFL — while Sanders provided stability to a position in flux. The pieces of the offense all seemed to fall into place after Sanders was added and he helped Deebo Samuel evolve quickly into a potent weapon. But Sanders turns 33 next month and would likely command north of $8 million per season. And the upcoming draft is considered one of the most loaded at the position in years. Letting Sanders sign elsewhere would be a tough pill to swallow, but perhaps a necessary one given the financial constraints and the chance to get add another young wideout to pair with Samuel for the long haul.
5. Open up cap space
The 49ers could use some cap space for all the reasons above. Which means making difficult decisions by replacing veterans with younger players (more on that later). A few veterans stick out as candidates to get released. Receiver Marquise Goodwin, who had 12 catches in nine games, could save $3.6 million if let go. Running back Tevin Coleman would save nearly $4.7 million. And Jerick McKinnon, who hasn’t played the last two seasons, surely won’t play for the 49ers in 2020 with his scheduled $8.5 million cap hit ($4.5 million could be saved by releasing him). That’s roughly $12.8 million the team could clear with three sensible cuts. Though it would put pressure on the front office to spend that money wisely and find adequate replacements.
6. Keep Jimmie Ward
Ward is one of the three starters unsigned for 2020 and might be the most difficult to replace, given the importance of free safety in San Francisco’s scheme. Ward’s backup, Tarvarius Moore, was up and down throughout the season, including the Super Bowl, and might not be ready to take on the “eraser” role on the league’s top passing defense. Ward’s play in the middle of the field was a key reason the 49ers were one of the stingiest teams in the NFL in preventing explosive plays. He’s a sure tackler and big hitter that plays cleanly. He wasn’t flagged at all in 2019 for illegal hit, which safeties are prone to. The team would be smart to try bringing him back. He could be within their price range. The other side of the argument, of course, is health. Last season marked just the second time in his six-year career he didn’t land on injured reserve.
7. Consider the free agents on margins
The 49ers have four notable backups who are unsigned, joining Armstead, Sanders and Ward. Interior offensive lineman Ben Garland, 32, filled in admirably for Weston Richburg in December and throughout the playoffs. And considering Richburg will spend a second-straight offseason rehabbing a significant leg injury, Garland might be worth keeping around as insurance. Defensive end Ronald Blair III was a key reserve who played well while spelling Armstead, Bosa and Dee Ford before tearing his ACL in November. Shon Coleman began training camp as the “swing” tackle before a season-ending ankle injury early in the preseason. The team believed he could develop into a starter before the injury, which may be important as Joe Staley enters his twilight years. Backup interior lineman Sheldon Day was disruptive at times but might also be replaced with a younger player like Kentavius Street. The decisions surrounding these players are important for depth.
8. Get more draft picks
Lynch and Shanahan have six picks in the draft and only one before Round 5. They have zero picks on Day 2, which is when they drafted Samuel, Fred Warner and Ahkello Witherspoon. Which means they’re strong candidates to trade back from the 31st-overall choice in Round 1 to get selections in rounds 2, 3 and/or 4, which could help restock the roster with younger, cheaper talent. As Peter King of NBC Sports pointed out this week, the Seahawks from last season could provide a blueprint. They turned the 21st pick into six selections through a series of trades (two in Round 2, two in Round 4, one each in rounds 5 and 6). San Francisco isn’t retooling the roster at that level, but trading back for a series of picks on Day 2 would seem prudent.
9. Extension/new contract candidates?
Speaking of cap space, new contract extensions for players such as Richard Sherman or fullback Kyle Juszczyk could create more space for 2020 if the deals are backloaded. Sherman, who turns 32 next month, is under contract for one more season and appears to have multiple seasons of productive ball left. Juszczyk is also signed through the coming season and turns 29 in April. He should have three or four seasons left as the best fullback in the game. Two other notable players on offense, receiver Kendrick Bourne and running back Matt Breida, are restricted free agents who can negotiate with other teams and solicit offers the 49ers could match. If not, they could get future draft picks as compensation.
10. Get injured players healthy
The best player on offense in training camp, according to Shanahan, didn’t play in 2019. That was receiver Trent Taylor, who broke his foot in August and then had a complicated series of five surgeries. He could provide a significant boost to the passing game if he returns to 2017 form, but that’s a big ask given his last two seasons have been marred with injuries (he had back surgery before 2018). Additionally, 2019 third-round draft pick Jalen Hurd didn’t play a snap in his rookie season because of a back injury after impressing with a two-touchdown performance early in the preseason. Then there’s Richburg, who torn his patellar tendon in December and will spend his offseason rehabbing after having a tendon surgically reconnected between his thigh and knee last winter. Other players coming back from injuries include nose tackle D.J. Jones (ankle), rookie corner Tim Harris (undisclosed), defensive lineman Jullian Taylor (ACL), Street (knee) and Shon Coleman (ankle).
This story was originally published February 19, 2020 at 4:00 AM.
