The 2015 season is a wrap, and we are a little over a month away from the start of the 2016 league year. There are a variety of important dates to keep in mind as we approach the new year. For today, we are going to look at some key dates that impact the San Francisco 49ers roster and salary cap.
The offseason formally started on Monday, February 8. On that day, the waiver period began again. Players with fewer than four years of service time are subject to waivers if released, while players with at least four years of service time immediately become free agents. Here is a rundown of the subsequent dates of note
February 12
Anquan Boldin's contract formally voids. He signed a 5-year deal with the 49ers, but the final three years were set to void. Those three years (2016, 2017, 2018) void on the 12th, and he will become a free agent at the start of the new league year, barring a new contract. The 49ers will carry a $2,727,000 cap charge in 2016.
February 16
Teams can designate franchise or transition players.
February 23-29
The NFL Combine takes place. While technically teams and agents cannot discuss contracts, it happens at this gathering of all the movers and shakers across the league.
March 1
This is the last day teams can designate franchise or transition players
March 7-9
This is the "tampering period", during which time teams and agents can begin negotiating contracts. Players cannot sign deals, but negotiations are allowed leading up to the start of free agency.
March 9
New League year starts, at which point trades and free agent signings are allowed to be executed. The Top 51 rule comes into play, which means a team's top 51 salaries must fit under the new salary cap.
NaVorro Bowman: $4.17 million of his $5.85 million base salary becomes guaranteed sometime at the beginning of the new league year, which begins March 9, 2016.
March 13
Blaine Gabbert: $200,000 roster bonus is due on the 5th day of the new league year, which should be March 13, 2016
April 1
Colin Kaepernick: His $11.9 million base salary becomes fully guaranteed
Torrey Smith: His $4.5 million base salary becomes fully guaranteed
Tramaine Brock: $600,000 of his $2.7 million base salary becomes fully guaranteed
Joe Staley: $4 million option bonus is due
The 49ers already have a host of players who have had some or all of their 2016 base salary guaranteed. Here is a quick list of those players.
1. Eric Reid: $1,581,467 base salary is fully guaranteed for being a 1st-round pick under the new CBA
2. Jimmie Ward: $1,066,594 base salary is fully guaranteed for being a 1st-round pick under the new CBA
3. Arik Armstead: $882,392 base salary is fully guaranteed for being a 1st-round pick under the new CBA
4. Jaquiski Tartt: $613,955 base salary was fully guaranteed as part of his 4-year deal that he signed last year, similar to how Carlos Hyde, Tank Carradine, and Vance McDonald also got their first two years guaranteed at signing.
5. Eric Rogers: $100,000 of his $450,000 base salary was guaranteed at signing
6. Colin Kelly: $65,000 of his $450,000 base salary was guaranteed at signing