The 49ers are working their way through OTAs, and as we continue prepping for the upcoming season, it seemed a good time for another swing through the positions. This time around, we are looking at the salary cap figures for the players competing in each position group. The 49ers have a ton of cap space, so it should not play a huge role in deciding roster spots, but it is always interesting to consider.
We are starting off with quarterbacks. We've got a list of the pertinent numbers for each player, and anything key points associated with the given contract. Some players had notable roster bonuses or guarantees.
Colin Kaepernick
2016
Cap hit: $15,890,753
Base salary: $11,900,000
Prorated SB: $2,465,753
Roster bonus: $2,000,000
Workout bonus: $400,000
2017
Cap hit: $19,365,763
Base salary: $14,500,000
Prorated SB: $2,465,753
Roster bonus: $2,000,000
Workout bonus: $400,000
2018
Cap hit: $19,865,754
Base salary: $15,000,000
Prorated SB: $2,465,754
Roster bonus: $2,000,000
Workout bonus: $400,000
2019
Cap hit: $19,200,000
Base salary: $16,800,000
Prorated SB: $0
Roster bonus: $2,000,000
Workout bonus: $400,000
2020
Cap hit: $21,400,000
Base salary: $19,000,000
Prorated SB: $0
Roster bonus: $2,000,000
Workout bonus: $400,000
Kaepernick’s $11.9 million base salary became fully guaranteed on April 1st. If the 49ers cut him, they eat the full $11.9 million base salary. It is worth noting that his contract includes offset language, so if they cut him, and he signed elsewhere for $4 million this year, that would leave the 49ers covering $7.9 million of the $11.9 million (just as an example). The only way the 49ers could see a financial gain would be trading him, which now seems very unlikely. Teams previously connected to Kaepernick included the broncos, who drafted Paxton Lynch, the New York Jets, who drafted Christian Hackenberg, and the Cleveland Browns, who signed Robert Griffin III in free agency and drafted Cody Kessler.
As for 2017, Kaepernick’s $14.5 million base salary is currently guaranteed for injury, and becomes fully guaranteed on April 1, 2017. If Blaine Gabbert ends up winning the starting quarterback job, the 49ers might decide to do something similar to what Washington did with RG3 last year. The team could decide to deactivate Kap on game days this fall. It would protect them from in-game injuries during the season, and Kaepernick would not get his $2 million in roster bonuses. That is paid out over the team's 16 games, based on being on the active 46-man roster each week.
It makes sense from a financial perspective, but it could go south in a hurry. We very well could see the NFLPA well step in, and try, and force the 49ers to release Kaepernick. Given what we saw with RG3 last year, I don't expect that, but this situation is delicate for the time-being.
While I can see this as a good option cap wise, the 49ers don’t need the extra cap room, and it only causes issues with potential high profile players. Considering what we have seen the last couple years, it would not exactly create the best environment to woo free agents.
Blaine Gabbert
2016
Cap hit: $2,300,000
Base salary: $1,750,000
Prorated SB: $250,000
Roster bonus: $200,000
Workout bonus: $50,000
Blaine Gabbert is entering the final season of his two-year contract. In March, he received a $250,000 roster bonus on the 5th day of the new league year. All indications are that he will be on the 2016 roster, and very likely could be the starter Week 1. He is getting the first team reps while Colin Kaepernick continues his rehab. Chip Kelly said the competition had not really gotten going yet, but work in OTAs gives him an advantage early on.
Thad Lewis
2016
Cap hit: $600,000
Base salary: $760,000
Lewis signed a one-year deal that includes no guaranteed money, be it part of his base salary or a signing bonus. However, he is a vested veteran, which means his salary would become fully guaranteed if he made the opening day 53-man roster.
Since Lewis is a vested veteran, the 49ers have another option. If they released him as part of final roster cuts, but brought him back after week 1, he would still get 25 percent of his salary guaranteed.
Jeff Driskel
2016
Cap hit: $478,135
Base salary: $450,000
Prorated SB: $28,135
2017
Cap hit: $568,135
Base salary: $540,000
Prorated SB: $28,135
2018
Cap hit: $658,135
Base salary: $630,000
Prorated SB: $28,135
2019
Cap hit: $748,135
Base salary: $720,000
Prorated SB: $28,135
Driskel signed his rookie deal, but could quickly be the primary benefactor if the 49ers do go ahead and bench Kaepernick each week. If that happened, he could potentially see some playing time later in the season if the 49ers are struggling. This would allow him to get close to reaching the proven performance escalator. Here is how that works:
The CBA states that an eligible player will qualify for the PPE in his fourth League year if: (1) he participated in a minimum of 35% of his Club's offensive or defensive plays in any two of his previous three regular seasons; or(2) he participated in a "cumulative average" of at least 35% of his Club's offensive or defensive plays over his previous three regular seasons. "Cumulative average" means the sum of the total number of offensive or defensive plays in which the player participated over the applicable seasons, divided by the sum of the Club's offensive or defensive plays during the same seasons. (By way of example, if a player participates in 600 of the Club's 1,000 offensive plays in his first season, 290 of the Club's 1,000 plays in his second season, and 310 of the Club's 1,000 plays in his third season for a total of 1,200 plays out of a possible 3,000, the cumulative average would equal 40%).
As far as the salary is concerned, the PPE shall equal the difference between (i) the amount of the Restricted Free Agent Qualifying Offer for a Right of First Refusal Only as set forth in, or as calculated in accordance with, Article 9 for the League Year in such player's fourth season and (ii) the player's year-four Rookie Salary (excluding signing bonus and amounts treated as signing bonus). The resulting amount shall be added to the stated amount of the player's year-four Paragraph 5 Salary.Lastly If you have any questions, please leave them below, and I will do my best to get to them all.
As always you can follow me on Twitter, @Jay_AB81, or check our salary cap section here, on Niners Nation, which is now officially the exclusive home for my salary cap information.