The San Francisco 49ers will not pick up the 2018 contract option for pass-rusher Elvis Dumervil, the team announced on Friday. Dumervil, 34, had 6.5 sacks in 16 games last season, but very limited snaps. He was due a $500,000 roster bonus on Tuesday.
In addition to not keeping Dumervil around, the team announced that it picked up the 2018 option on linebacker Dekoda Watson, and tendered a one-year contract to exclusive-rights free agent running back Raheem Mostert.
Watson played on just 88 defensive snaps, but on 288 special teams snaps for 2018 (62.07 percent). I’m not surprised to see him back. Mostert played on 15 offensive snaps, but on 204 special teams snaps (43.97 percent).
Just a couple weeks ago, I wrote how weird it was that NFL.com listed Dumervil as a potential cut candidate, so it’s obvious that I’m surprised. His cap hit in 2018 was set to be $4.25 million, which isn’t a paltry sum, but 6.5 sacks in 341 defensive snaps, 30.31 of total defensive snaps, is pretty dang good as far as I’m concerned.
Then again, the 49ers are extending people and, presumably, will offer a lot of money to someone or someones in free agency. Potentially a wide receiver, though after the Buccaneers just extended Mike Evans to the tune of $82.5 million, who knows what that market will look like.