SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Given the magnitude of the league-rattling move the San Francisco 49ers made to get their quarterback of the future, it’s hard to call any offseason more critical than what they did in 2021.

But, in part because rookie signal-caller Trey Lance didn’t take over after the Niners traded up to No. 3 to draft him, this offseason is nearly as important. Many of the decisions coach Kyle Shanahan, general manager John Lynch and their staffs make this offseason will be geared towards helping Lance in 2022 when, presumably, he takes over as the long-term starter.

With that in mind, here’s a look at what the Niners must do to again be a Super Bowl contender.

Extensions for Bosa and Deebo

Much like in recent years with the likes of tight end George Kittle and linebacker Fred Warner, the Niners have two franchise centerpieces due for massive contract extensions: defensive end Nick Bosa and wide back Deebo Samuel. Also like Kittle and Warner, deals for both are unlikely to happen until late summer.

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Still, the Niners have planned for both.

“We fully understand these guys are pillars of what we’re trying to do here,” Lynch said. “We’ve been blessed that we’ve been aggressive, because we’ve had a lot of players that we believe are some of the best in the league at what they do. And these guys are no different. … I’ m sure that we’ll find a way to get that done. It’s been budgeted for.”

Get quarterback clarity ASAP

The idea that the Niners will again keep starter Jimmy Garoppolo is far-fetched, despite San Francisco’s efforts to publicly maintain that piece of leverage. Garoppolo, meanwhile, expects to be traded and would like a say in where he lands.

“I’ve got a long career ahead of me,” Garoppolo said. “I’m excited about the opportunities to come. I just want to go to a place where they want to win.”

There appears to be no shortage of recent playoff contenders in need of a quarterback. Pittsburgh, Washington, Denver, New Orleans, Tampa Bay and Indianapolis are but a handful of the teams who could be in the Garoppolo market.

Ideally, a trade would come together sooner than later even though it can’t become official until the new league year opens March 16. That would give the Niners some certainty on how much cap space they have to negotiate with their free agents and make outside additions. It would also allow Garoppolo to help steer his destination before this year’s game of quarterback musical chairs stops.

It would also clear the decks for Lance to move ahead as the starter and give San Francisco a chance to find a capable veteran backup — Tyrod Taylor, perhaps? — in free agencies.

Settle the salary cap

As it stands, the Niners figure to enter the new league year roughly $10 million over the salary cap. They must be in cap compliance with their top 51 salaried players by March 16.

Getting the Garoppolo situation settled is the most important piece of the Niners’ offseason financial equation, as trading him would instantly save $25.55 million.

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Defensive end Dee Ford is another expected departure, though his situation is more complicated. Ford had a $4.6 million roster bonus fully guarantee on Feb. 15 because of injury, which means the Niners can save only $2.4 million by releasing him. That savings can only be realized by including a post-June 1 designation and can’t be used until after that date.

Which means the Niners, in addition to moving Garoppolo, will have to explore other avenues to create cap space. The most common way to do that would be with simple contract restructures (converting base salaries into signing bonuses that can be spread out over the remaining years on a contract). Kittle, defensive lineman Arik Armstead and free safety Jimmie Ward are among the targets for such a move, with the Niners able to save up to roughly $24 million by restructuring their contracts.

Doing all of those things could give the Niners about $40 million in cap space for 2022.

Keeping their own

Once again, the 49ers have a lengthy list — 33 players — set to hit some form of free agency. Among the scheduled unrestricted free agents are left guard Laken Tomlinson, cornerbacks Jason Verrett and K’Waun Williams, defensive tackle DJ Jones, safety Jaquiski Tartt, defensive end Arden Key and running back Raheem Mostert. Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair heads the group of restricted free agents.

Last year, when the pandemic kept the salary cap down and depressed the market, the Niners kept more free agents than expected. Similar factors could be at play this year but players like Tomlinson, Jones and Key should have plenty of suitors.

Keeping that trio should be the top priority, but even retaining two of the three would be considered a win.

Outside help on the offensive line and at cornerback

Depending on how much cap flexibility the Niners can create, what they’re budgeting for Samuel and Bosa and which free agents they can keep, they also should be seeking help at cornerback and on the interior of the offensive line. Perhaps they’ll have to wait until the NFL draft for such reinforcement, and with three picks on Day 2 (but none in the first round) they have the resources to continue adding at those spots.

If they can figure out a way to make it work, adding a difference-maker at cornerback in free agency could vault the Niners’ defense into one of the league’s best. That doesn’t mean they have to spend the type of money that will go to a top free agent such as New England’s JC Jackson or Tampa Bay’s Carlton Davis if either hits the open market. But a proven veteran who will be pricey but not bank-breaking on a shorter deal (think Carolina’s Stephon Gilmore) would make a lot of sense.

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Remaining priorities for the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL off-season. (Photo by Michael Zagaris / San … [+] Francisco 49ers / Getty Images)

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The San Francisco 49ers pretty much set their 90-man roster for off-season programs and the start of training camp after making eight choices in the 2021 NFL draft.

Apparently, the biggest news of the Santa Clara off-season was the 49ers’ decision to act through the third election on the draft for North Dakota quarterback Trey Lance. He will now probably fight for the QB1 place in the camp with the reigning starter Jimmy Garoppolo.

Even so, there are a few things left on the 49ers plate after most of the heavy lifting is done. Could San Francisco choose to bring back a future Hall of Fame cornerback? Perhaps it would appear that a recipient is being freed up after avoiding that position in the draft for the first time in 18 years. There’s also a chance the 49ers could lock up one of their young stud players for a long time.

Below, I see four moves the San Francisco 49ers should make this off-season.

San Francisco 49ers Richard Sherman re-sign

The San Francisco 49ers re-sign Richard Sherman. (Photo by Joe Scarnici / Getty Images)

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For a while earlier this off-season, it looked like a reunion between Sherman and the 49ers was no longer in sight after three seasons together. At 33 years old and an injury-ridden 2020 campaign in which he missed all but five games, there simply wasn’t a strong market for Sherman’s services. It has led to recent signs that he might be back in Northern California for the coming season.

The Fresno Bee’s Chris Biderman notes that Sherman and the 49ers are involved in preliminary talks about a return. Sherman himself said he was “excited” to stay on with the organization.

There are some obvious complications here, however. First and foremost, San Francisco, with its entire eight-person design class to be signed, is just $ 18 million below the cap. Cornerbacks Ambry Thomas (third round) and Deommodore Lenoir (fifth round) were also selected in the draft. After the re-signing of K’Waun Williams, Emmanuel Moseley and Jason Verrett, is there room for Sherman in the free agency?

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I say yes. While the cornerback seems to be on its last legs, Sherman is still a season away from a Pro Bowl appearance with San Francisco. He could start facing Verrett on short notice while serving as the veteran presence for Thomas and Lenoir. If the money is working this should be a priority.

San Francisco 49ers sign Fred Warner to renew contract

The San Francisco 49ers make Fred Warner the highest-paid inside linebacker in the NFL. (Photo by Kathryn … [+] Riley / Getty Images)

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They may have to wait until the next off-season when the NFL salary cap expands. As mentioned above, the 49ers only have a cap space of $ 18 million. Without Jimmy Garoppolo (unlikely) trading or restructuring other contracts, Warner’s situation will likely have to be brought to its knees.

Even then, the 24-year-old Warner has to have short-term priority. He’s the best inside linebacker in the NFL and has been totally dominant since the 49ers stole him in the third round of the 2018 draft. In the last season alone, the BYU product recorded 125 tackles, seven quarterback hits, six defended passes, five tackles due to loss, and two interceptions en route to being the best insider linebacker according to Pro Football Focus metrics.

This will ultimately result in a huge payday for Warner, slated to become a free agent after the 2021 season. The inability to lock Warner up that off-season or this season will likely force San Francisco to put the franchise tag on him. That would run to an estimated $ 19 million and handcuff the 49ers on a large scale for the next off-season.

The alternative is to make Warner the highest-paid inside linebacker in the NFL within the next few weeks. That deal would surpass the $ 18 million Bobby Wagner made in his deal with the Seattle Seahawks, but with a lower cap hit of 2022 than the franchise of his. Perhaps Jimmie Ward and Laken Tomlinson’s signing of renewals while Arik Armstead’s contract was being restructured could create enough room to imprison Warner in the long term.

San Francisco 49ers Add Wide Receiver in Free Agency or in Retail

San Francisco 49ers sign the Golden Tate. (Photo by Abbie Parr / Getty Images)

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The addition of Austin Watkins Jr. as a vacant free agent shouldn’t change the 49ers’ plans anytime soon. Sure, he was seen as a mid-round pick leading the draft and fulfilling a need in the slot. But relying on him for an instant effect is stupid.

Right now, Sane Deebo have Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk scheduled in San Francisco to start from the outside. Seasoned free agent Mohamed Sanu will fight for slot assignments with Richie James and the often injured Jalen Hurd. Of this group, only James has had some recent success. In fact, Hurd missed each of his first two seasons due to injury after being selected in the third round in 2019.

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With their limited resources, the 49ers should do whatever it takes to add a capable slot type to the mix. Golden Tate and Danny Amendola are two freelance agents that they have their eye on. The former Chicago Bears second round hit Anthony Miller is firmly on the trading bloc. Maybe it might make sense to send a mid-round pick to the Windy City for the fledgling slot type.

As unlikely as it is, San Francisco could also kick its tires if Julio Jones is added to the mix. The Atlanta Falcons are said to be open to trading in the seven-time Pro Bowler. He worked with Kyle Shanahan in Atlanta and would be an absolutely fantastic fit. Complications include the compensation schemes returning to the hawks in a hypothetical trade and Jones’ bloated contract. Any such move would also require the 49ers to trade or release Garoppolo.

San Francisco 49ers attempt to add NFL draft capital in 2022

San Francisco 49ers act with Jimmy Garoppolo. (Photo by Abbie Parr / Getty Images)

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To say the 49ers left the farm to trade for Trey Lance would be an understatement. This includes the selection of the first round in 2022 and 2023 and the third round next year. It might make sense for San Francisco to remove a player or two in deep positions during training camp.

The decision of the 49ers to design Trey Sermon (third round) and Elijah Mitchell (sixth round) leads to a traffic jam in the background. Perhaps a team will call for the impressive youngster Jeff Wilson in case these two show up at training camp.

After Maurice Hurst and Zach Kerr were added to the mix during the NFL Free Agency, the defensive tackle position is stacked in San Francisco as well. In it, people like Kevin Givens and DJ Jones could become trading lures.

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With that in mind, Jimmy Garoppolo could be the largest chip San Francisco has for acquiring future design capital. Let’s say another starting quarterback is injured in the off-season or at camp. In this case, Garoppolo’s commercial market would grow. The keys to the kingdom would again be handed over to Lance as a beginner. Stranger things have happened.

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