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 started off with quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends Today, we move on to the offensive line. We've got a list of the pertinent numbers for each player, and anything key points associated with the given contract. The 49ers have a full depth chart of players, but it remains to be seen how the group will shuffle out when Week 1 arrives.
Joe Staley
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
Per Game RB |
WO Bonus |
|
2016 |
$8,300,000 |
$5,400,000 |
$2,200,000 |
$500,000 |
$200,000 |
|
2017 |
$11,150,000 |
$8,250,000 |
$2,200,000 |
$500,000 |
$200,000 |
|
2018 |
$7,700,000 |
$4,800,000 |
$2,200,000 |
$500,000 |
$200,000 |
|
2019 |
$7,700,000 |
$4,800,000 |
$2,200,000 |
$500,000 |
$200,000 |
Staley is clearly the leader of the offensive line, and he is an affordable left tackle, I expect Staley to stay at the level that we’ve grown accustomed to over the last several years.
Staley has no base salary guarantees left in his contract, it’s a cap friendly deal, and the 49ers can get out of it at any time without a huge hit.
Erik Pears
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
Week 1 RB |
Per Game RB |
WO Bonus |
LTBE |
|
2016 |
$3,350,000 |
$1,450,000 |
$250,000 |
$200,000 |
$200,000 |
$250,000 |
$1,000,000 |
It’s clear that Pears was one of the two weakest links last year. The other was of course, Jordan Devey, who is no longer a 49er. I expect the same with regard to Pears. He has no guaranteed money left, and they would see a small dead money hit, around $500,000.
Note that Pears’s $1 million NLTBE turned into a LTBE for play time, since he reached the percentage needed last year.
Zane Beadles
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
Per Game RB |
WO Bonus |
LTBE |
|
2016 |
$2,633,333 |
$1,050,000 |
$583,333 |
$300,000 |
$200,000 |
$500,000 |
|
2017 |
$3,533,333 |
$2,450,000 |
$583,333 |
$300,000 |
$200,000 |
$0 |
|
2018 |
$4,083,334 |
$3,000,000 |
$583,334 |
$300,000 |
$200,000 |
$0 |
Beadles is the 49ers biggest free agent signing this year, and really the only significant one (sorry Thad Lewis). I expect him to be the starting left guard in year one, with the possibility of moving to right guard. Also, note that Beadles earned a berth in the 2012 Pro Bowl as a left guard in Denver's zone blocking scheme. He would seem to be a perfect fit for the 49ers offense.
Beadles had his entire 2016 base salary guaranteed at signing, and $500,000 of his 2017 base salary is guaranteed for injury right now. It becomes fully guaranteed for that amount on April 1, 2017.
Joshua Garnett
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
|
2016 |
$1,691,693 |
$450,000 |
$1,241,693 |
|
2017 |
$2,114,616 |
$872,923 |
$1,241,693 |
|
2018 |
$2,537,539 |
$1,295,846 |
$1,241,693 |
|
2019 |
$2,960,462 |
$1,718,769 |
$1,241,693 |
Garnett was the 49ers second 1st-round pick in this years draft, and is expected to be the starter at right guard in year one. I expect Garnett to do a good job, as he is a mauler, and a force on the offensive line.
Please note that the above numbers are projections, as Garnett has yet to sign his deal due to Stanford still having to complete final exams. Additionally, his deal includes a fifth year option for the 2020 season.
Daniel Kilgore
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
Per Game RB |
WO Bonus |
|
2016 |
$1,350,000 |
$900,000 |
$337,500 |
$62,500 |
$50,000 |
|
2017 |
$1,587,500 |
$1,000,000 |
$337,500 |
$200,000 |
$50,000 |
Kilgore has two seasons left on the four-year extension he signed in 2014. He is pretty affordable, and I expect him to be the starting center. They did not sign or draft another center, Marcus Martin wasn’t that impressive, and the rest of their options at center are developmental prospects.
Marcus Martin
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
WO Bonus |
|
2016 |
$822,813 |
$635,000 |
$167,813 |
$20,000 |
|
2017 |
$945,813 |
$758,000 |
$167,813 |
$20,000 |
I believe this is a make-or-break year for Martin. If he does not improve in training camp, he could very well be one of the final roster cuts later this summer.
Martin is eligible for the proven performance escalator, and should already have qualified for the raise in 2017 due to snap counts in 2014 and 2015.
Brandon Thomas
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
|
2016 |
$726,504 |
$600,000 |
$126,504 |
|
2017 |
$816,504 |
$690,000 |
$126,504 |
Thomas was a highly rated prospect before he tore his ACL in a pre-draft workout with the New Orleans Saints. He has yet to see the field, but he is getting first team snaps at right guard in OTAs. That is likely due to Garnett not being allowed to workout until after Stanford completes their exams. I’m honestly not sure what happens with Thomas, as this is a make-or-break kind of year for him too. It is a plus he is getting first team work, but it is hard to say what will happen in the coming months.
Thomas would be eligible for the proven performance escalator, but he hasn’t played a snap, so he won’t be able to get it for 2017.
Andrew Tiller
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
|
2016 |
$600,000 |
$600,000 |
Tiller clearly played better than Jordan Devey did when given the chance, but with Beadles, and Garnett now in the Bay Area, is there a spot for Tiller? I’m not sure there is to be honest. It’s going to be a tough decision, because Tiller is a talented player, but the 49ers drafted two linemen in hopes of adding better depth.
Ian Silberman
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
|
2016 |
$555,419 |
$525,000 |
$30,419 |
|
2017 |
$645,419 |
$615,000 |
$30,419 |
|
2018 |
$735,419 |
$705,000 |
$30,419 |
Honestly I don’t think Silberman makes the 2016 roster. He is likely a practice squad candidate at this point. If Silberman does make the team, he is eligible for the proven performance escalator
Trent Brown
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
|
2016 |
$538,973 |
$525,000 |
$13,973 |
|
2017 |
$628,973 |
$615,000 |
$13,973 |
|
2018 |
$718,973 |
$705,000 |
$13,973 |
I really feel like the 49ers got a steal when they got Brown in last years draft. I think we see him as the right tackle in 2016. I don’t expect Anthony Davis back anytime soon, and honestly I don’t think the team needs him, as they’re fine with Brown at right tackle. Brown is eligible for the proven performance escalator in 2018.
John Theus
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
|
2016 |
$514,403 |
$450,000 |
$64,403 |
|
2017 |
$604,403 |
$540,000 |
$64,403 |
|
2018 |
$694,403 |
$630,000 |
$64,403 |
|
2019 |
$784,403 |
$720,000 |
$64,403 |
Theus is the primary backup right tackle right now, and he should be there opening week. The 49ers will likely get him in at one of the two guard spots during training camp to add extra versatility. Theus will be eligible for the proven performance escalator in 2019.
Fahn Cooper
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
|
2016 |
$496,096 |
$450,000 |
$46,096 |
|
2017 |
$586,096 |
$540,000 |
$46,096 |
|
2018 |
$676,096 |
$630,000 |
$46,096 |
|
2019 |
$766,096 |
$720,000 |
$46,096 |
Cooper is actually playing at right guard in OTAs, even though he played left tackle, and right tackle at Ole Miss. I expect him to be on the 53-man roster come September. Cooper will be eligible for the proven performance escalator in 2019.
Colin Kelly
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
|
2016 |
$457,500 |
$450,000 |
$7,500 |
|
2017 |
$547,500 |
$540,000 |
$7,500 |
The 49ers gave Kelly $80,000 guaranteed, between a $65,000 base salary guarantee this year, and a $15,000 signing bonus. Kelly is likely a practice squad candidate, and someone the 49ers will want to develop in the future. Kelly could sign an extension as soon as the 2017 season ends if he makes it that far.
Alex Balducci
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
|
2016 |
$454,166 |
$450,000 |
$4,166 |
|
2017 |
$544,166 |
$540,000 |
$4,166 |
|
2018 |
$634,168 |
$630,000 |
$4,168 |
I really feel like Balducci will surprise people this offseason, and make the 53-man roster as a backup center. He provides versatility as a potential emergency nose tackle as well. Balducci received a high guarantee, $57,500, which is made up of a $12,500 signing bonus, and a $45,000 base salary guarantee this year. Balducci would be eligible for an extension after the 2017 season.
Blake Muir
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
|
2016 |
$451,666 |
$450,000 |
$1,666 |
|
2017 |
$541,666 |
$540,000 |
$1,666 |
|
2018 |
$631,668 |
$630,000 |
$1,668 |
Muir is likely a practice squad candidate, as he got $20,000 guaranteed as a UDFA. It was split between a $5,000 signing bonus and a $15,000 base salary guarantee. I expect Muir to have a strong chance at a spot on the 10-man practice squad. Muir would be eligible for an extension after the 2017 season.
Norman Price
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
|
2016 |
$451,666 |
$450,000 |
$1,666 |
|
2017 |
$541,666 |
$540,000 |
$1,666 |
|
2018 |
$631,668 |
$630,000 |
$1,668 |
Price is a longshot to make the 2016 roster, he is likely a practice squad candidate at best right now.
Here is how the proven performance escalator (PPE) works, according to the CBA: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.