Introduction: As people here know me as AB83Rules, I own ninercaphell.com, and work mostly on cap related items. Fooch has given me the opportunity to join the writing staff, and I am excited to begin.
Now that the final cuts have wrapped up, I would like to take a look at how the 49ers salary cap situation is for this season. First I would like to make a few comments on this years’ team and cap outlook.
There are 56 players under contract as this moment, the 53-man roster and three more on injured reserve. I would like to point out that before the final cuts were made the 49ers were around $14.5M under the $120.375M cap for 2011. After cuts have been made you will see that the 49ers are around $12M under the cap at the moment. The reason for the difference is due to the fact all teams must count every single player under contract against the cap now. That $12 million number will go down a bit after the team signs players to the practice squad. I won’t get into the specifics of how the practice squad works as Fooch did a great job explaining it here.
It is obvious that the way the teams 53 man roster is scheduled will not be that way the entire season. This could be due to injuries, cuts, and signings. In particular, I expect them to add a veteran QB after releasing Josh McCown.
What I find very interesting about the cuts was releasing Konrad Reuland and Nate Lawrie, thus going with two tight ends. I wonder if they feel comfortable with Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker and possibly Bruce Miller as a TE. It also seems as if the team has made an emphasis on the youth on the offensive line. While I don’t agree with releasing Tony Wragge, I can see the reasoning. They didn’t want to take a chance of losing rookie OL Mike Person on waivers. Lastly, the special teams unit is going to be a big part of this teams look. This is seen in the team's decision to keep two fullbacks and a sixth safety in Colin Jones, alongside C.J. Spillman.
In sum, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if they decide to use a little of the cap space on contract extensions. This is even more likely given that the team did not use any cap space on Frank Gore’s new 3-year deal.
Last thing to mention is 2012. I have added in each players' scheduled 2012 salary. From the current roster, there are 36 players under contract for 2012. You will see that the 49ers tentatively have over $46 million in cap space for 2012 based on a projected $130M salary cap. That’s just something to think about. The team has done a good job of maneuvering, and keeping the cap in great standing.
Below is an updated 2011 salaries chart as of 9/3/11.
| # | Player | Pos | 2011- | Base | Workout | Roster/Opt | Signing | Signed | 2012- |
| 52 | Patrick Willis | ILB | $7,184,333 | $2,046,000 | $0 | $0 | $5,138,333 | 2016 | $6,254,000 |
| 21 | Frank Gore | RB | $7,133,000 | $2,900,000 | $0 | $2,000,000 | $2,233,000 | 2014 | $4,350,000 |
| 85 | Vernon Davis | TE | $6,974,666 | $4,708,000 | $200,000 | $400,000 | $1,666,666 | 2015 | $8,117,666 |
| 15 | Michael Crabtree | WR | $5,734,000 | $3,875,000 | $0 | $500,000 | $1,359,000 | 2014 | $4,000,000 |
| 94 | Justin Smith | DE | $5,500,000 | $5,000,000 | $500,000 | $0 | $0 | 2013 | $6,375,000 |
| 90 | Isaac Sopoaga | NT/DE | $4,955,000 | $3,800,000 | $0 | $0 | $1,155,000 | 2012 | $4,955,000 |
| 11 | Alex Smith | QB | $4,900,000 | $4,000,000 | $900,000 | $0 | 2011 | UFA | |
| 22 | Carlos Rogers | CB | $4,250,000 | $2,125,000 | $2,125,000 | 2011 | UFA | ||
| 36 | Shawntae Spencer | CB | $3,200,000 | $3,100,000 | $100,000 | $0 | 2012 | $3,300,000 | |
| 99 | Aldon Smith | OLB | $2,615,273 | $375,000 | $2,240,273 | 2014 | $3,269,091 | ||
| 55 | Ahmad Brooks | OLB | $2,400,000 | $1,200,000 | $0 | $0 | $1,200,000 | 2011 | UFA |
| 76 | Anthony Davis | RT | $2,354,166 | $487,500 | $0 | $1,700,000 | $166,666 | 2015/2014 | $2,791,666 |
| 31 | Donte Whitner | SS | $2,333,333 | $1,500,000 | $833,333 | 2013 | $3,875,000 | ||
| 66 | Jonathan Goodwin | C | $2,166,667 | $1,000,000 | $500,000 | $666,667 | 2013 | $3,816,667 | |
| 74 | Joe Staley | LT | $2,159,750 | $1,150,000 | $0 | $0 | $1,009,750 | 2017 | $1,460,000 |
| 98 | Parys Haralson | OLB | $2,150,000 | $1,850,000 | $0 | $0 | $300,000 | 2013 | $2,750,000 |
| 81 | Braylon Edwards | WR | $2,100,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,100,000 | 2011 | UFA | ||
| 68 | Adam Snyder | C/OG | $2,100,000 | $2,000,000 | $0 | $0 | $100,000 | 2011 | UFA |
| 91 | Ray McDonald | DE | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | 2015 | $4,050,000 | ||
| 38 | Dashon Goldson | FS | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | 2011 | UFA | ||
| 44 | Moran Norris | FB | $1,927,500 | $1,500,000 | $0 | $0 | $427,500 | 2011 | UFA |
| 2 | David Akers | PK | $1,916,667 | $1,300,000 | $50,000 | $566,667 | 2013 | $3,616,667 | |
| 77 | Mike Iupati | LG | $1,777,500 | $450,000 | $0 | $1,087,500 | $240,000 | 2014 | $2,031,000 |
| 25 | Tarell Brown | CB | $1,680,750 | $800,000 | $0 | $0 | $880,750 | 2013 | $1,730,750 |
| 46 | Delanie Walker | TE | $1,610,000 | $750,000 | $0 | $0 | $860,000 | 2012 | $1,905,000 |
| 19 | Ted Ginn Jr. | WR | $1,443,750 | $1,393,750 | $0 | $50,000 | $0 | 2011 | UFA |
| 4 | Andy Lee | P | $1,276,667 | $1,000,000 | $0 | $0 | $276,667 | 2012 | $1,376,667 |
| 86 | Brian Jennings | LS | $1,131,000 | $910,000 | $0 | $0 | $221,000 | 2014 | $1,146,000 |
| 62 | Chilo Rachal | OG | $1,091,000 | $644,000 | $0 | $0 | $447,000 | 2011 | UFA |
| 20 | Madieu Williams | FS | $1,000,000 | $810,000 | $190,000 | $0 | 2011 | UFA | |
| 7 | Colin Kaepernick | QB | $931,691 | $375,000 | $556,691 | 2014 | $2,737,849 | ||
| 30 | Reggie Smith | FS/SS | $796,000 | $600,000 | $0 | $0 | $196,000 | 2011 | UFA |
| 51 | Blake Costanzo | ILB/ST | $750,000 | $700,000 | $50,000 | 2011 | UFA | ||
| 84 | Joshua Morgan | WR | $626,500 | $600,000 | $0 | $0 | $26,500 | 2011 | UFA |
| 53 | NaVorro Bowman | ILB | $625,562 | $450,000 | $0 | $0 | $175,562 | 2013 | $715,562 |
| 54 | Larry Grant | ILB | $600,000 | $600,000 | 2011 | UFA | |||
| 96 | Antwan Applewhite | OLB | $600,000 | $600,000 | 2011 | UFA | |||
| 95 | Ricky Jean Francois | NT | $535,750 | $525,000 | $0 | $0 | $10,750 | 2012 | $625,750 |
| 27 | C.J. Spillman | FS | $525,000 | $525,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 2011 | RFA |
| 29 | Chris Culliver | CB | $524,719 | $375,000 | $149,719 | 2014 | $614,719 | ||
| 32 | Kendall Hunter | RB | $484,805 | $375,000 | $109,805 | 2014 | $574,805 | ||
| 24 | Anthony Dixon | RB | $480,150 | $450,000 | $0 | $0 | $30,150 | 2013 | $570,150 |
| 82 | Nate Byham | TE | $476,550 | $450,000 | $0 | $0 | $26,550 | 2013 | $566,550 |
| 10 | Kyle Williams | WR | $469,850 | $450,000 | $0 | $0 | $19,850 | 2013 | $559,850 |
| 75 | Alex Boone | OT | $450,000 | $450,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 2011 | ERFA |
| 26 | Tramaine Brock | CB | $450,000 | $450,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 2011 | ERFA |
| 57 | Keaton Kristick | ILB | $450,000 | $450,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 2011 | ERFA |
| 67 | Daniel Kilgore | C | $415,075 | $375,000 | $40,075 | 2014 | $505,075 | ||
| 43 | Colin Jones | SS | $399,724 | $375,000 | $24,724 | 2014 | $489,724 | ||
| 49 | Bruce Miller | FB/OLB | $390,613 | $375,000 | $15,613 | 2014 | $480,613 | ||
| 78 | Mike Person | OG | $386,475 | $375,000 | $11,475 | 2014 | $476,475 | ||
| 41 | Curtis Holcomb | CB | $386,475 | $375,000 | $11,475 | 2014 | $476,475 | ||
| 63 | Will Tukuafu | DE | $375,000 | $375,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 2011 | ERFA |
| 64 | Ian Williams | NT | $375,000 | $375,000 | 2013 | $465,000 | |||
| 9 | Dontavia Bogan | WR | $375,000 | $375,000 | 2013 | $465,000 | |||
| 78 | DeMarcus Dobbs | DE | $375,000 | $375,000 | 2013 | $465,000 | |||
| Active/IR/PUP/PS Total | $102,319,961 | TOTALS | $81,958,771 | ||||||
| Dead Money Total | $5,745,650 | DEAD | $895,198 | ||||||
| Total w/Dead Money | $108,339,031 | ALL | $83,054,849 | ||||||
| 2011 Salary Cap | $120,375,000 | CAP | $130,000,000 | ||||||
| Potential Credits($1M x 3) | $3,000,000 | CAP SPACE | $46,945,151 | ||||||
| Vet Discount | Workout | $200,880 | |||||||
| Other Workout | $273,420 | ||||||||
| Cap Space Left | $12,035,969 | ||||||||
| DEAD MONEY LIST | 2011 AMOUNT | 2012 AMOUNT | |||||||
| 2011 UDFA Class | $25,000 | $50,000 | |||||||
| Phillip Adams | $14,462 | $28,924 | |||||||
| Kentwan Balmer | $1,646,750 | ||||||||
| Mike Balogun | $2,125 | ||||||||
| Tramine Brock | $250 | ||||||||
| Jarrett Brown | $1,600 | ||||||||
| Glen Coffee | $414,122 | ||||||||
| Nate Clements | $2,366,666 | ||||||||
| Nate Davis | $75,150 | ||||||||
| Ronald Johnson | $26,055 | $78,165 | |||||||
| Matt Kopa | $3,000 | ||||||||
| Keaton Kristick | $7,875 | ||||||||
| Nate Lawrie | $50,000 | ||||||||
| Scott Long | $2,300 | ||||||||
| Chris Maragos | $2,500 | ||||||||
| Taylor Mays | $377,000 | $754,000 | |||||||
| Josh McCown | $50,000 | ||||||||
| Scott McKillop | $48,063 | $48,063 | |||||||
| Jared Perry | $2,600 | ||||||||
| Michael Robinson | $480,000 | ||||||||
| Patrick Stoudamire | $2,500 | ||||||||
| Curtis Taylor | $14,970 | $14,970 | |||||||
| Cody Wallace | $122,124 | ||||||||
| Tony Wragge | $50,000 | ||||||||
| Total | $5,745,650 | $895,198 |