clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Jerick McKinnon contract gives 49ers plenty of options after year one

As always, the 49ers have

Fooch’s update: We cleared up the numbers

The San Francisco 49ers signed Jerick McKinnon to a four-year contract worth up to $36.9 million, but in reality it is along the lines of a one-year deal with the team having options after 2018. NFL reporter Aaron Wilson posted the salary and bonus details, which includes an option bonus for 2021.

NFL reporter Ben Volin offered his own thoughts, describing the deal as effectively one year with $11.7 million in year one cash. His 2019 salary is guaranteed for injury, and becomes fully guaranteed if he is on the roster next spring, which is par for the course for many 49ers contracts.

McKinnon is making some solid money with a chance to earn even bigger money if he proves effective in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. At the same time, if he struggles, the 49ers will have gambled big in 2018, but really not gambled much of anything beyond that.

As we’ve said before, Paraag strikes again. If we don’t see any improvement from McKinnon it will be wasted money, but given what Kyle Shanahan and Bobby Turner have done in the past with a host of running backs, it is hard not to be at least a little excited about this addition. It’s not a cheap move by any means, but it’s certainly not the end of the world as some would have thought when the first news came out.