The 49ers 2011 season is over, but things are just getting started with the 2012 offseason. The 49ers took care of some relatively easy business on Tuesday as they signed seven players to Future/Reserve contracts. As the offseason moves along, there are plenty of notable dates to mark down on your calendar. If only a month is listed, that is a basic estimation. We know things like minicamp and OTAs will happen, but we don't have any specific dates yet:
Jan 28: Senior Bowl
Feb 20-Mar 5: Teams may designate franchise or transition player
Feb 22-28: NFL Combine
March 2-28: College pro days take place
March 13: Start of League year (beginning of free agency, trading)
March 17: Deadline for submission of qualifying offers by clubs to restricted free agents
April (generally around week of Draft): 2012 NFL schedule released
April 26-28: 2012 NFL Draft
May: Minicamp
June: OTAs
Late July: Training Camp
Head after the jump for a rundown of the 49ers 2012 draft picks, free agents and more.
As the 49ers move into the offseason, one of the most frequently asked questions lately has been what the salary cap will be in 2012. Last month, Charley Casserly indicated the cap would be similar to this year, when it was approximately $120 million. That seems to be a consensus point at the moment, but the number could change. I recall instances in the past where one cap number was expected, but some last minute accounting led to higher than expected numbers. So, we'll have to wait and see, but for now we're looking at $120 million and change.
Our friends at Niner Cap Hell try and keep a running tally of the 49ers salary cap situation. It is not a simple task because there is no single place that lists every needed detail. Instead, everybody has to cobble together information where they can find it. Accordingly nobody is perfect, but NCH does a great job with the limitations in place.
They had the 49ers with approximately $16 million in cap space in this recently completed season. The 49ers will obviously have plenty more cap space with free agents coming off the books. As it currently stands, it appears the 49ers top salary cap numbers in 2012 belong to Vernon Davis ($8,117,666), Justin Smith ($6,375,000), Patrick Willis ($6,254,000) and Isaac Sopoaga ($4,955,000). The 49ers have four other players with cap figures in the four million range (Michael Crabtree, Frank Gore, Ray McDonald and Donte Whitner.
49ers 2012 Free Agents
CB Tramaine Brock (EFA)
LB Ahmad Brooks
LB Blake Costanzo
WR Ted Ginn Jr.
FS Dashon Goldson
LB Tavares Gooden
LB Larry Grant (RFA)
WR Joshua Morgan
FB Moran Norris
TE Justin Peelle
G Chilo Rachal
CB Carlos Rogers
QB Alex Smith
S Reggie Smith
OL Adam Snyder
DB C.J. Spillman (RFA)
WR Brett Swain
DE Will Tukuafu (EFA)
S Madieu Williams
49ers Draft Picks
Round 1 - Pick 30
Round 2 - Pick 30
Round 3 - Pick 29
Round 4 - Pick 30
Round 5 - Pick 30
Round 6 - Pick 29Round 7 - Pick 21 (rumored from Bengals for Taylor Mays trade) Whoops, it's a 2013 pick
Round 7 - Pick 30