San Francisco 49ers: Potential Cuts and Free Agents
Byron Lambert, Rosterwatch.com

While perusing the team by team salary cap data at Spotrac.com, one thing becomes very evident. 49ers GM Trent Baalke runs a tight ship, employing a very disciplined and balanced approach. The Niners have no player on the books for more than $8M in 2014. Nor are they really upside-down on any players. Sure, this is probably set to change when QB Colin Kaepernick gets paid. Nonetheless, this is still an impressive feat by Baalke. It’s no wonder he’s a great GM – he’s a personnel guy who operates like a finance guy.

Free Agents:

Anquan Boldin (WR)– UFA
Mario Manningham (WR)– UFA
Anthony Dixon (RB)– UFA

Candidates to be Cut:

Frank Gore (RB)– Niners can save $6.5M by cutting Gore. Kendall Hunter, LaMichael James, and Marcus Lattimore (who has now been cleared for football activities) are on the books for a grand-total of $2.23M in 2014. Gore will either restructure or be cut this offseason.

Jonathan Baldwin (WR)– Could save over $1M by cutting him. If they like him, he’s a relatively affordable 1.4M.

** LaMichael James and/or Kendall Hunter could also be cut to save the team $500K-$600K/ea

*** Other notable, Non-Fantasy Relevant players who appear likely to leave or be restructured are- CB Carlos Rogers and DT Glenn Dorsey

**** Re-signing WR Michael Crabtree NOW – who is scheduled to make $3.5M in 2014 during the last season of his rookie contract – is likely to be MUCH less expensive than doing so after a 2014 season where he will probably go bananas if able to stay healthy. Word is that talks are under way to keep the Crab in the Bay Area long-term.