49ers free agency tracker: With Garoppolo trade market paused, Niners get creative on Kittle, Armstead deals
Today marks the NFL’s new financial year, and before you start singing Auld Lang Syne for a Jimmy Garoppolo farewell, the 49ers took predictable measures to potentially delay his exportation.
To create room under the $208.2 million salary cap by 1 p.m., the 49ers moved some money around in terms of the contracts of Arik Armstead and George Kittle.
Some $18.8 million was cleared by restructuring their contracts, ESPN’s Field Yates reported Wednesday morning, a day after the 49ers gained $5 million by again restructuring Dee Ford’s albatross of a contract. Armstead was to command a $14.2 million base salary and Kittle an $11.5 million salary prior to their restructurings.
Garoppolo’s cap figure is $27 million ($24 million base salary), and the 49ers could gain $18 million in cap space with a release that now seems further unlikely.
Now, the 49ers aren’t forced to push Garoppolo out ASAP. They will still field offers for him, a process that’s dragged on for months and could continue for many more. His shoulder rehabilitation is expected to keep him from throwing until July.
The Garoppolo trade market is stalled because of an NFL quarterback carousel that’s paused for Deshaun Watson’s fate. The Houston Texans are trying to peg a trade partner for Watson, who reportedly will meet today with the Atlanta Falcons after sitdowns with the New Orleans Saints, the Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons in previous days.
Those teams’ quarterback situations are unsettled, along with those of the Indianapolis Colts and the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers are fully expected to press forward with 2021 No. 3 overall draft pick Trey Lance as Garoppolo’s successor, and with Nate Sudfeld re-signed as the backup.
A league source disputed a report Tuesday that the 49ers also planned to meet with Watson.
TENDER TIME
Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and guard Daniel Brunskill drew one-year tenders as restricted free agents, and Al-Shaair’s case is particularly interesting.
Al-Shaair received a second-round tender worth $3.99 million for the 2022 season, which is a solid chunk more than Dre Greenlaw ($2.45 million). Both linebackers are poised to become unrestricted free agents next year. Greenlaw missed most of last regular season with a groin injury and Al-Shaair flourished in his place next to Fred Warner.
Brunskill, a 40-game starter since 2019, drew the minimum tender of $2.43 million that still gives the 49ers’ the right of first refusal, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows reported. Fellow starting guard Laken Tomlinson is expected to formalize a three-year, $40 million deal today with the New York Jets.
LET’S MAKE A DEAL
The 49ers still have 18 players scheduled to become unrestricted free agency. Don’t be surprised if a handful already have been re-signed under the radar, while only Tomlinson and D.J. Jones (Denver Broncos) have secured contracts elsewhere.
The only outside free agents who’ve reportedly agreed to contracts with the 49ers are cornerback Chavaraius Ward and linebacker Oren Burks.
Pending free agents from the 49ers: running back Raheem Mostert, cornerbacks Josh Norman, Jason Verrett, K’Waun Williams and Dontae Johnson; safeties Jaquiski Tartt and Tavon Wilson; offensive lineman Tom Compton; tight end Ross Dwelley; safety/linebacker Marcell Harris; defensive linemen Arden Key and Jordan Willis; wide receivers Mohamed Sanu, Trent Sherfield, Richie James Jr. and Travis Benjamin; running backs Jeff Wilson Jr. and Trenton Cannon.
DRAFT ORDER
Here are the 49ers’ spots in in the NFL’s April 28-30 draft, to be held in Las Vegas:
First round: None; traded No. 29 to Miami
Second round: No. 61 overall
Third round: Nos. 93, 105 (compensatory); traded No. 102 to Miami
Fourth round: No. 134
Fifth round: No. 172
Sixth round: Nos. 187 (from Denver), 220 (compensatory), 221 (compensatory)
Seventh round: No. 262 (compensatory)