After a great season, the San Francisco 49ers lost Super Bowl LVIII to the Kansas City Chiefs. The 25-22 overtime setback will hurt the Bay Area for years. However, the offseason brings change as money tightens and they defend their NFC crown.
Cap space for the Niners is $1.4 million. Several players may renegotiate their contracts, changing that number. Deebo Samuel, Dre Greenlaw, Charvarius Ward, and Arik Armstead might restructure their teams to make improvements. However, the 49ers must release some players this summer. Why? Because quarterback Brock Purdy is the finest deal in sports, earning $1 million next season and $1.1 million in 2025. San Francisco should prepare for a $30 million annual increase.
These five players will not play for the 49ers next season
Chase Young
In November, the 49ers traded a third-round pick to the Washington Commanders for the 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year to improve their pass rush. Results are mixed. Young has great promise off the edge, but he struggled in Washington and the team declined his fifth-year rookie option. Young has 7.5 sacks this season, 2.5 with the 49ers, and a 74.4 Pro Football Focus grade.
San Francisco would have to overpay Young’s productivity to lure him back. This is a bad decision for an inconsistent player, especially after his poor postseason performance. One Super Bowl sack won’t change San Fran’s mind. Since the Niners are generally wise with these judgments, they’ll likely let someone overpay for the 24-year-old and replace him.
Sam Darnold
Darnold and Brandon Allen, 31, Brock Purdy’s backups, have thrown 20 passes since 2021. Darnold is entering free agency, and while bringing him back would be inexpensive, the Niners may look outside for a seasoned backup.
Darnold played 10 games this season and was OK. He completed 28 of 46 passes (60.9 percent) for 297 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He had a decent passer rating (85.1) and QBR (49.6). Darnold is a career backup, but the 49ers might upgrade on the free market.
Randall Gregory
Both Young and Gregory were traded midseason by the 49ers. Results were poor. Only a seventh-rounder was traded to the Denver Broncos for Gregory, who has only 11 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 12 games. Even though he sacked Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl, his PFF rating is 45.5.
Gregory, 31, enters free agency with 5.5 sacks in three seasons. The 49ers could improve their edge backup search. A club anxious to squeeze the quarterback will certainly offer Gregory a minimal contract. SF won’t be that team.
Ray McCloud
When the 49ers signed McCloud for two years, $4 million in 2022, he was meant to be a backup. In two seasons with the team, he’s had 26 catches for 378 yards and a score. McCloud missed the season following wrist surgery and never found his groove. He averaged 11.3 yards per grab with 12 catches for 135 yards and no touchdowns in the regular season. He gained 30 yards on three carries.
McCloud, a gadget guy, never played offense in San Francisco and hasn’t improved special teams. In 2020, he was voted second-team All-Pro for his kick returning prowess in Pittsburgh. In 2023, he averaged 8.5 yards per punt return and 22.5 yards per kickoff return for San Francisco. He’s 27, and the 49ers can find better depth and returners.
Javon Kinlaw
Kinlaw was drafted 14th overall in 2020 after playing great defensive tackle for South Carolina. Poor guy has never lived up to that hype. His future wasn’t in the Bay unless he had a big year after the 49ers didn’t take up his fifth-year option. He did not. Kinlaw only has 70 tackles and five sacks in four seasons. He’s had 25 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 17 games in 2023. His PFF is 49.6, which is poor.
Kinlaw possesses the physique to dominate inside defensive lineman. He’s behind Arik Armstead and Javon Hargrave in San Francisco because he hasn’t worked it out. Someone will want to play him and pay him. San Francisco won’t, therefore the 49ers will go elsewhere for depth who can help a competitive team.
