The San Francisco 49ers just gave running back Christian McCaffrey the largest contract in NFL history for his position, but that hasn't quieted the rumors swirling around their wide receiver contracts this offseason.
During the 2024 NFL Draft, reports hinted that Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk might be on the trading block. The idea was to clear Samuel's cap hit and avoid giving Aiyuk a huge payday at the top of the receiver market. Fast forward to early June, Aiyuk skipped the 49ers' mandatory minicamp, fueling more speculation. According to recent reports, the 49ers offered Aiyuk $26 million per year, which would make him eighth among receivers in terms of average annual salary.
The 49ers have almost $32 million in cap space, according to Spotrac, so extending Aiyuk could actually lower his 2024 cap hit by pushing some money into future years. But looking ahead, San Francisco is clearly trying to manage their finances carefully for 2025 and beyond.
Here are some key points about their future financial commitments:
- Top Players with Big Cap Hits in 2025: Christian McCaffrey, Kyle Juszczyk, George Kittle, Trent Williams, and Javon Hargrave are all among the top five at their positions in terms of cap hits.
- Nick Bosa and Deebo Samuel: Bosa's $20.5 million cap hit is 15th among pass rushers, while Samuel is eighth among receivers with a $24 million cap hit.
- Dead Cap Hits: Charvarius Ward and Arik Armstead will count significantly against the cap in 2025, even though they aren't under contract for that season.
And let’s not forget about Brock Purdy, the slumbering giant. Despite being the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, he’s playing at a high level. Under the league’s collective bargaining agreement, Purdy can’t sign a contract extension until after the 2024 season. With his market value estimated at $46 million per season, it’s unlikely he’ll be content with his $1.1 million salary in 2025.
In light of these factors, it's clear that the 49ers have some tough decisions ahead. They probably won’t be able to use the franchise tag on a receiver in 2025 due to the projected $25 million cost. Samuel’s $24 million cap hit and Kittle’s $22 million further complicate matters. Plus, the 49ers drafted wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, signaling a preparation for transition.
Other teams have already started moving on from highly paid receivers to keep their Super Bowl windows open. The Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill and the Bills traded Stefon Diggs. Some 49ers fans think 2024 might be the last dance for this group, while others believe the Super Bowl window extends beyond. It's likely the team will stay competitive but with some new faces.
Looking at the future:
- Aging Veterans: Trent Williams will be 37 in 2025, and George Kittle will turn 32 in October that year.
- 2026 Financial Challenges: Bosa’s cap hit jumps to $42 million, Williams’ to nearly $38 million, and both Hargrave and Fred Warner will exceed $26.5 million. Kittle’s contract expires after 2025, but he’ll still count $13 million against the 2026 cap. Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings also have significant dead cap hits, as do Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos.
If I had to guess, we might see an Aiyuk extension before training camp starts, but expect some big names to be let go as the 49ers attempt to reload around Purdy.
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