49ers roster: 90-man roster, free agents and more following early March transactions

NFL free agency is just around the corner, and with the San Francisco 49ers rather active the last few days with players already on the market, I think it is a good time to re-visit the full roster. The 49ers have signed three players this week, and none of them will impact the comp pick formula for the 2016 NFL Draft. When a player is released, they can sign right away, but do not count as an addition for the formula. Trent Baalke has always been one to pay attention to that, as he continues accumulating draft picks.

Over the last few days, the 49ers have signed defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, wide receiver Jerome Simpson, and rugby player/hopeful return man and running back Jarryd Hayne. That moves the 49ers roster to 66 players. They are allowed a maximum of 90 during the offseason. With a potential nine regular and comp picks in the 2015 NFL Draft (not counting trades), that leaves the team with 15 available roster spots. That is not a hard and fast number of course. The team can create room by dealing draft picks, and of course there are several players on the roster that could easily be replaced if the 49ers find extra options in veteran free agency or undrafted free agency.

The list below starts with players under contract. We then move on to exclusive rights free agents, restricted free agents, and unrestricted free agents. The ERFAs and RFAs are all strong possibilities of returning to the team. ERFAs can be re-signed at the league minimum, while RFAs will see bumps in pay. If all four return, that boosts the 49ers roster to 70 players.

Players in bold/italics are additions since the last roster listing.

Under contract

QB (1): Colin Kaepernick
RB (4): Carlos Hyde, Kendall Hunter, Kendall Gaskins**, Jarryd Hayne
FB (2): Bruce Miller, Trey Millard
WR (8): Anquan Boldin, Stevie Johnson, Bruce Ellington, Trindon Holliday, Chuck Jacobs, Quinton Patton, Lance Lewis**, Jerome Simpson
TE (5): Vernon Davis, Vance McDonald, Derek Carrier, Asante Cleveland, Xavier Grimble**
OT (4): Joe Staley, Anthony Davis, Jonathan Martin, Chris Martin**
OG (5): Alex Boone, Fou Fonoti, Joe Looney, Brandon Thomas, Andrew Tiller
C (3): Marcus Martin, Daniel Kilgore, Dillon Farrell

DL (10): Glenn Dorsey, Tank Carradine, Quinton Dial, Mike Purcell, Kaleb Ramsey, Justin Smith, Ian Williams, Lawrence Okoye**, Garrison Smith**, Darnell Dockett
OLB (5): Ahmad Brooks, Corey Lemonier, Aaron Lynch, Aldon Smith, Chase Thomas
ILB (5): Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, Chris Borland, Nick Moody, Shayne Skov**
CB (7): Tramaine Brock, Kenneth Acker, Cameron Fuller, Leon McFadden, Keith Reaser, Marcus Cromartie, Dontae Johnson
S (5): Antoine Bethea, Eric Reid, Craig Dahl, L.J. McCray, Jimmie Ward

P (1): Andy Lee
K (1): Phil Dawson

Exclusive rights free agents

DL: Tony Jerod-Eddie
ILB: Michael Wilhoite

Restricted free agents

TE: Garrett Celek
LS: Kyle Nelson

Unrestricted free agents

QB: Blaine Gabbert, Josh Johnson
RB: Frank Gore, Alfonso Smith, Phillip Tanner
WR: Michael Crabtree, Brandon Lloyd, Kassim Osgood
OG: Mike Iupati
OLB: Dan Skuta
ILB: Desmond Bishop
CB: Perrish Cox, Chris Culliver, Chris Cook
S: Bubba Ventrone (agreed to become an assistant coach with the New England Patriots)