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, tight ends, offensive line, defensive line, outside linebackers, and inside linebackers. Today, we move on to the cornerbacks. We've got a list of the pertinent numbers for each player, and anything key points associated with the given contract. We've also added info about dead money and cap savings for each player if they are released. June 1 has arrived, so we'll consider all cuts post-June 1 cuts.
Tramaine Brock
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
Per Game RB |
WO Bonus |
|
2016 |
$3,880,000 |
$2,700,000 |
$750,000 |
$300,000 |
$130,000 |
|
2017 |
$4,300,000 |
$3,100,000 |
$750,000 |
$320,000 |
$130,000 |
If Cut
Dead Money: $750,000
Cap Savings: $3,130,000
I see Brock being in a make or break season. Health issues have been an issue, and he hasn’t produced enough to warrant paying so much. He does have $600,000 of his 2016 base salary guaranteed, so he will likely be here, barring a major surprise.
Jimmie Ward
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
RB |
WO Bonus |
|
2016 |
$1,939,781 |
$1,066,594 |
$873,187 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
2017 |
$2,263,077 |
$690,000 |
$873,187 |
$677,390 |
$22,500 |
If Cut
Dead Money: $1,939,781
Cap Savings: $0
The former first-round pick out of Northern Illinois is expected to start at one cornerback spot, and I have no issue with it. New 49ers defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil called him one of the team's best 11 defensive players, so that means he will be a starter, or at least be playing quite a bit. Ward is eligible for a 5th-year team option, which will be cornerback money if he plays enough snaps there to qualify. His 2016 base salary is fully guaranteed.
Dontae Johnson
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
|
2016 |
$700,136 |
$600,000 |
$100,136 |
|
2017 |
$790,136 |
$690,000 |
$100,136 |
If Cut
Dead Money: $100,136
Cap Savings: $600,000
Johnson, to me, is worthy of starting at one of the 2 main cornerback spots. I’m a big fan of his, and expect him to make a good impact in 2016. He is eligible for the proven performance escalator.
Will Redmond
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
|
2016 |
$668,142 |
$450,000 |
$218,142 |
|
2017 |
$758,142 |
$540,000 |
$218,142 |
|
2018 |
$848,142 |
$630,000 |
$218,142 |
|
2019 |
$938,142 |
$720,000 |
$218,142 |
If Cut
Dead Money: $218,142
Cap Savings: $450,000
Redmond has not signed his contract yet, so this is based on Over The Cap's projections. I loved this pick. I’m a huge Redmond fan, and had he not torn his ACL he could have been a first round pick last month. Fortunately, the 49ers got him in the third round, and I expect him to compete if healthy. If not ready in August, he spends the season on NFI. He is eligible for the proven performance escalator in 2019. This i
Keith Reaser
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
|
2016 |
$641,200 |
$600,000 |
$41,200 |
|
2017 |
$731,200 |
$690,000 |
$41,200 |
If Cut
Dead Money: $41,200
Cap Savings: $600,000
Reaser might be battling it out with Acker for a spot on the roster at cornerback, and quite frankly I haven’t been that impressed by him. He is technically eligible for the proven performance escalator, but since he spent his rookie season on the NFI list, and only played 6.9 percent of snaps in 2015, he would need to be one of the starter corners and play basically every snap in 2016 to earn the PPE.
Kenneth Acker
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
|
2016 |
$630,150 |
$600,000 |
$30,150 |
|
2017 |
$720,150 |
$690,000 |
$30,150 |
If Cut
Dead Money: $30,150
Cap Savings: $600,000
I’m not that big of a fan of Acker’s, but I expect him to make the 2016 roster. He is eligible for the proven performance escalator in 2017.
Chris Davis
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
|
2016 |
$600,000 |
$600,000 |
If Cut
Dead Money: $0
Cap Savings: $600,000
Davis is probably a long shot to make the 2016 roster. He has two accrued seasons under his belt. The last two years, he retained practice squad eligibility due to a change in the rules. The NFL and NFLPA struck a two-year agreement covering 2014 and 2015 that expanded rosters. However, those rules are set to revert to the previous rules (could not have more than one year of accrued services) unless the two sides agree to an extension of the 2014-15 agreement. There is no word on any extension yet.
Marcus Cromartie
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
|
2016 |
$600,000 |
$600,000 |
If Cut
Dead Money: $0
Cap Savings: $600,000
I think Cromartie could surprise some people. He didn’t look bad last year in limited opportunities, and very well could make the 2016 roster.
Rashard Robinson
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
|
2016 |
$545,848 |
$450,000 |
$95,848 |
|
2017 |
$635,848 |
$540,000 |
$95,848 |
|
2018 |
$725,848 |
$630,000 |
$95,848 |
|
2019 |
$815,848 |
$720,000 |
$95,848 |
If Cut
Dead Money: $95,848
Cap Savings: $545,848
We all know that Robinson has had off the field issues, but I think those are behind him. If he can stay focused, he is ready to come in and compete. I expect Robinson to be among the five or six cornerbacks kept on the 53-man roster.
Prince Charles Iworah
|
Year |
Cap Hit |
Base |
SB |
|
2016 |
$465,369 |
$450,000 |
$15,369 |
|
2017 |
$555,369 |
$540,000 |
$15,369 |
|
2018 |
$645,369 |
$630,000 |
$15,369 |
|
2019 |
$735,369 |
$720,000 |
$15,369 |
If Cut
Dead Money: $15,370
Cap Savings: $450,000
Iworah is a sleeper for me. He brings incredible strength and speed, and I think he could come right in and compete for a spot on the roster. If he doesn’t make the 53-man roster, he is a practice squader for sure.
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.