Free Agency Is Coming: The 49ers (Offense)
A look at offensive signings predictions.
As the official start to the 2022 NFL season starts next week, there’s gonna be a LOT of money thrown around. Key to that for the 49ers is trading Jimmy Garoppolo, who is likely to go to either the Colts or Steelers at this juncture. (The Saints are a dark horse, but are in such cap hell I honestly think they’d need actual magic to make this work.)
Assuming Jimmy is largely off the books, that gives the team some freedom to sign a few players - while contract extensions for Deebo Samuel and Nick Bosa are looming, there are so many ways to do that with different salary cap implications that I won’t even hazard a guess. I know they’re budgeted for, but not HOW that’s the case, so just understand that I know those are both likely to happen soon.
I do think it’s likely that both George Kittle and Arik Armstead do some type of restructuring to their contracts to free up more space this season, and Dee Ford (yes, he’s still on the team) will still count way too much against the cap.
All that being said, here’s the position-by-position guess - and let’s be clear, that’s all it is - of what the team might prioritize.
QUARTERBACK
Obviously, Jimmy will be gone and Trey Lance is the QB1. But I think it’s likely that they’ll try and sign a veteran to back him up. Ideally, it’s a guy with some mobility, a veteran presence AND who understands this isn’t his job unless there’s an injury. Depending on the price, the very best targets are: Marcus Mariota, Tyrod Taylor and Jacoby Brissett, aka Jake Brisket. On Thursday, the team resigned Nate Sudfeld to a one year deal, where he should compete for the QB2 with whoever else they sign or draft. A quarterback room with Lance, Taylor and Sudfeld sounds pretty good to me.
RUNNING BACK
Always the strength of the team, they head into free agency with Eli Mitchell, Trey Sermon and FB Kyle Juszczyk under contract. They’ll likely need at least two other bodies. Raheem Mostert, if healed up, should be cheap (and by cheap, I’m talking maybe 2 years, $5MM) and adds a speed element they don’t have elsewhere. I could also see Mike McDaniel signing him in Miami, so what’s clear is the team can NOT get into a bidding war for RB. They’ve also been floated as options for overpriced, injury prone veterans like Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey but I would hope the team has learned its lesson from Jerick McKinnon and go cheap here. Aside from Mostert, any RB signings will likely not be a name that elicits excitement, which is as it should be.
TIGHT END
With spirit animal George Kittle in tow, and Charlie Woerner also signed, there’s a third spot open with Ross Dwelley hitting free agency. He could always be re-signed, but I see this as a spot the team might target in the draft. Most decent TE’s got franchise tagged, so the market is fairly thin here.
WIDE RECEIVER
The team is quite set with Deebo, Brandon Aiyuk and ERFA Juaun Jennings but desperately need a speed receiver and some depth. The draft will likely provide at least one receiver, but I’d LOVE it if the team signed Will Fuller to a 1-2 year deal. After missing most of last season, he should not cost a ton and still has a ton of speed and can be a total game breaker. With Kittle, Deebo, Aiyuk and Fuller, QB Trey Lance would have the entire field to pick apart.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The tackle position is set with Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey returning from injury. And I’m assuming Alex Mack will be back for another season, with Jake Brendel just resigned to back him up. At one guard position 2021 rookie Aaron Banks is likely to (have to) step in and produce. (There’s a fan theory that he was drafted more for a Trey Lance offense, not a Jimmy G one. I call hooey on this theory, but as a 2nd round pick he needs to start earning his salary.) That leaves a starting guard position, as Laken Tomlinson is a free agent. The 49ers LOVE him, and I suspect they’re going to do what it takes to re-sign him. Other options if Tomlinson proves too expensive: James Daniels, Rodger Saffold, Austin Corbett or Will Hernandez could prove decent alternatives.
So, in terms of signings, my predictions/hopes are that on the offense, the 49ers sign: Tyrod Taylor, Raheem Mostert, Will Fuller and Laken Tomlinson. Next up, we take a look at the defense.