The San Francisco 49ers will have a new general manager and head coach sometime between now and the day after Super Bowl 51, and that will have just a slightly significant bearing on free agency. If they go with a Packers option, do they follow Ted Thompson’s strategy of focusing on the draft? Or do they look to try something different. Whomever they do hire at GM will have his own unique thoughts on the free agent market.
The 49ers will have a ton of cap space at their disposal, and plenty of holes to fill. They can’t just sign an all-star team of free agents, but they can fill some big holes with some quality young talent that might hit the market.
NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal recently put together a ranking of the top 25 potential unrestricted free agents. There is a lot of talent that will be due a big contract this offseason. However, we also know that some of them will get the franchise tag, and others will get long-term deals worked out. Most of the top of this group will be unavailable when March gets here, but some decent talent could remain.
Rosenthal’s top five included running back Le’Veon Bell, safety Eric Berry, quarterback Kirk Cousins, defensive tackle Kawann Short, and pass rusher Chandler Jones. Bell, Cousins, and Jones all could get easily get the franchise tag. Short could as well, but the Panthers might get a long-term deal. Berry got the tag once, and odds seem decent he gets a long-term extension this time around.
Here is a breakdown of the notable players by position.
Quarterbacks
3. Kirk Cousins, Washington
N/A. Mike Glennon, Buccaneers
Running Backs
1. Le’Veon Bell, Steelers
N/A. Eddie Lacy, Packers
N/A. LeGarrette Blount, Patriots
Wide Receivers
6. Alshon Jeffery, Bears
18. DeSean Jackson, Washington
19. Terrelle Pryor, Browns
N/A. Kenny Britt, Rams
Tight End
17. Martellus Bennett
Offensive Tackle
24. Ricky Wagner, Ravens
N/A. Riley Reiff, Lions
N/A. Andrew Whitworth, Bengals
Offensive Guard
12. Kein Zeitler, Bengals
20. T.J. Lang, Packers
N/A. Larry Warford, Lions
Defensive End
8. Calais Campbell, Cardinals
10. Jason Pierre-Paul, Giants
N/A. Chris Baker, Washington
N/A. Jabaal Sheard, Patriots
Defensive Tackle
4. Kawann Short, Panthers
9. Brandon Williams, Ravens
16. Dontari Poe, Chiefs
N/A. Johnathan Hankins, Giants
Inside Linebacker
15. Dont’a Hightower, Patriots
Outside Linebacker
5. Chandler Jones, Cardinals
7. Melvin Ingram, Chargers
11. Jamie Collins, Browns
21. Nick Perry, Packers
N/A. DeMarcus Ware, Broncos
Cornerback
13. Stephon Gilmore, Bills
14. A.J. Bouye, Texans
22. Trumaine Johnson, Rams
Safety
2. Eric Berry, Chiefs
23. Tony Jefferson, Cardinals
25. Barry Church, Cowboys
N/A. T.J. McDonald, Rams
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