Golden Nuggets: Keeping cap space for the future

Tuesday, March 20th, 2018 edition of the Golden Nuggets, a daily compilation of San Francisco 49ers links from the Internet

By Billy Kerr@bkerr725 Mar 20, 2018, 2:00am PDT

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NFL: Tennessee Titans at San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers had a busy first week of free agency and signed some key pieces to help them win more games next season. Richard Sherman, Weston Richburg, and Jerick McKinnon all signed with the team and all three will have big roles to play. While money was definitely spent, the 49ers still have around $45 million in cap space. It may be possible that they don’t spend much more other than to sign their incoming rookies. The front office needs to look into the future and that cap space will be important to sustain any success they hope to have.

Next offsesaon, Jaquiski Tartt, Trent Brown, and Jimmie Ward will be free agents. Tartt was developing into a key member of this defense until he went down last season. He could be an important part of this team for a long time and the 49ers will likely resign him. His safety counterpart Jimmie Ward has had trouble staying healthy. If he can’t stay healthy, he will probably be allowed to enter free agency next offseason. He may also have to prove his versatility this offseason. With Tartt and Adrian Colbert performing well, Jimmie may have to move back to corner. The 49ers are still thin at corner and Jimmie could provide some needed depth. Trent Brown will be up for a huge deal next offseason. With the amount of money Jimmy Garoppolo is getting, the 49ers need to make sure they protect him and resigning Trent may be a priority.

In the 2020 offseason, DeForest Buckner will be up for a deal. So far in his early career, he looks like one of the better interior linemen in the league and someone that the 49ers need to build their defense around. It should be expected that the 49ers try to sign him to a big deal next offseason rather than have him test the free agent market the following offseason. Buckner’s college teammate Arik Armstead is up for free agency next offseason. He has never lived up to the high expectations and the 49ers have until May to make a decision on if they want to pick up his fifth year option.

49ers links

Good resigning | Brock’s contract (Wagoner)

Early starting lineup projections (Inman)

49ers’ free agency approach (Wagoner)

Have to make sure they can pay their own guys when the time comes | Still keeping an eye on the future (Maiocco)

Weston Richburg (Williams)

Kyle Shanahan did not want to lose out | Jets tried to get McKinnon (Alper)

Projecting defensive starters (Inman)

State of the 49ers (PFF team)

49ers won again | Jets and 49ers pushed for McKinnon (Biderman)

Post-free agency (Barrows)

Huge year for Jimmie’s 49ers career | Jimmie Ward (Biderman)