[ad_1]
With 38 players potentially in free agency, it will be a busy offseason for San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan.
One area where the Niners could be completely different next season is high school. Lynch said the franchise plans a salary cap of $ 175 million in 2021, and with nine high school players for new offerings, it will be interesting to see how the front office plays out.
Despite the absence of passer Nick Bosa and Dee Ford for most of the season, high school was one of San Francisco’s highlights. The 49ers gave up just 207.9 yards per game, which is the fourth under in the NFL.
Security Jimmie Ward has had a good year and is on contract for 2021.
Here are the nine players whose contracts are about to expire:
CB Richard Sherman: salary in 2020 was $ 9.05 million (UFA)
CB K’Waun Williams: salary in 2020 was $ 2.95 million (UFA)
CB Jason Verrett: salary in 2020 was $ 1.04 million (UFA)
CB Ahkello Witherspoon: The salary in 2020 was $ 971,166 (UFA)
CB Donate Johnson: salary in 2020 was $ 910,000 (UFA)
CB Jamar Taylor: salary in 2020 was $ 910,000 (UFA)
CB Emmanuel Moseley: salary of $ 675,000 in 2020 (ERFA)
CB Ken Webster: salary in 2020 was $ 675,000 (EFRA)
FS Jaquiski Tartt: the salary in 2020 was 6.5 million dollars (UFA)
S Marcell Harris: salary in 2020 was $ 675,000 (RFA)
* EFRAs: If San Francisco offers them a one-year contract worth the league minimum – which depends on their experience – they can’t negotiate with other teams.
Sherman has previously said it would take a miracle for him to re-sign with the team given the Cape crisis. The 33-year-old All-Pro has been one of the best corners in the game since entering the league in 2011, but it looks like he will play the end of his career with another team.
Williams has faced injury issues that have forced him to miss eight games this season. When he’s on the pitch, he makes a difference for the 49ers. Williams is one of the best slots in the league, dropping just 15 receptions for 83 yards when targeted for cover. He’s also effective in the blitz, with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh occasionally using Williams as a rusher.
Verrett was a pleasant surprise. The former Pro-Bowler has bounced back big after suffering injuries from 2016 to 2018. The starting injuries gave Verrett a chance to shine in the 2020 season, and he didn’t disappoint. Pro Football Focus gave Verrett a score of 77.6, the ninth highest from any corner in the league.
The 29-year-old was asked about the possibility of re-signing with San Francisco during his end-of-season media availability:
“Coming here and seeing how they’ve changed things for me physically and mentally, it’s a little hard not to want to come back,” said Verrett. “It’s a little hard not wanting to see if we can fix things just because it’s an organization of class acts. They did a hell of a job with me during my stay last year and this year.
Witherspoon has been a wild card since his selection in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. At 6’3, 195 pounds, “Spoon has all the physical tools that coaches look for in a corner. But, his inconsistency caused the coaching staff to lose confidence in their abilities. Witherspoon did a few headshots during his tenure with the team, but he sometimes teased with his ability. He was one of the best players on the field against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17 and did a fantastic job covering DK Metcalf.
Moseley took over the starting position from Witherspoon in 2019 and was one of Shanahan’s favorites. The 24-year-old has appeared in 12 games this season, and without Sherman on the pitch, his numbers have taken a hit.
Moseley gave up 28 more yards in coverage in 2020 than last season, playing four games less. The opposing quarterbacks had a 98.8 rating when targeting Moseley and had a 58.8% completion percentage. I expect Moseley to be back in 2021. He’s young and has shown his ability to play at a high level on a dominant defense.
Taylor played well filling in this season before tearing up his ACL, while Johnson has been a reliable replacement for the team. Depending on the price, the two could be back with the Niners next season.
Tartt may be too rich for the blood of the 49ers and could be about to come out. Tavarius Moore is still raw but will need to improve his coverage if he is to be a starter in the league. Harris looked better as a linebacker than a safe one and is another cheap depth item that could be re-signed.
Several turns could hit the open market this offseason, but some of the big names will likely be too expensive for the Niners. Players like Mackensie Alexander and Brian Poole are in line for big raises and will more than likely command the top dollar. You can see the full list of unrestricted free agent corners on Sportrac.
San Francisco can also add to secondary via draft. The 49ers have eight draft picks as of now – they could get more depending on what’s going on with the comp picks – and will almost certainly use one of the picks on the secondary.
Here are Alex Eisen’s 10 best turns and safeties that will be available in the 2021 NFL Draft:
Cornerback:
- Patrick Surtain II – Alabama
- Jaycee Horn – South Carolina
- Shaun Wade – State of Ohio
- Caleb Farley – Virginia Tech
- Derion Kendrick – Clemson
- Asante Samuel Jr. – Florida State
- Tyson Campbell – Georgia
- Paulson Adebo – Stanford
- Eric Stokes – Georgia
- Josh Jobe – Alabama
Security:
- Paris Ford – Pittsburgh
- Jevon Holland – Oregon
- André Cisco – Syracuse
- Trevon Moehrig – TCU
- Bubba Bolden – Miami
- Caden Sterns – Texas
- Ar’Darius Washington – TCU
- Richard LeCounte – Georgia
- Kolby Harvell-Peel – State of Oklahoma
- Reed Blankenship – Mid Tennessee
Who do you think will start high school for the 49ers next season? Is there a specific player you want the target team to do in free agency or draft?
[ad_2]
Source link