49ers restructure Laken Tomlinson’s contract to create $1.34M in cap space

Per ESPN’s Field Yates, The San Francisco 49ers restructured left guard Laken Tomlinson’s contract by converting part of his salary into a bonus to create more cap space. Yates stated that there were voidable years added, and the move created roughly $1.34 million. Over The Cap has the 49ers at around $5.2 million in cap space after the Tomlinson restructure. The 49ers added “ghost” years to spread the cap hit into 2022 and beyond.

You have to imagine the front office is doing everything they can to add a player at the trade deadline. This isn’t a “random” move to create cap space. With that said, $5.2 million isn’t going to do much unless the Tomlinson restructure isn’t the last one coming. We spoke about it on our podcast, but trading for Aldon Smith would make too much sense as Dallas, despite leading their embarrassing division, isn’t going to make any noise this season. More on that later. Those are the type of players the 49ers are likely to acquire if a trade is imminent.

You can scheme around your offensive line, but it’s difficult to scheme around talent on defense. Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have been vocal about that all offseason. Here are five edge rushers that make sense, with their cap hit next to them:

Melvin Ingram - Los Angeles - $14M

Ryan Kerrigan - Washington - $11.6M

Carlos Dunlap - Cincinnati - $8.7M

Tak McKinley - Atlanta - $1.8M

Aldon Smith - Dallas - $1.3M

Acquiring a player like Ingram would cost too much in draft capital and also require an extension, though the latter wouldn’t be a bad thing considering it’s unlikely we see Dee Ford play in a 49ers uniform again. Who do you know that recovered from a neck and a back injury in the same season? The 49ers will have to be creative if they intend to make a move at the trade deadline, but if there is one person capable of doing so, it’s Paraag Marathe.