49ers’ cap situation bad — but others have it worse

Just because the 49ers can’t keep everyone this offseason doesn’t mean they can’t keep up with the competition.

As has been widely discussed, the 49ers have a problem with the start of free agency looming March 17: modest salarycap space and many pending free agents.

But the often overlooked good news amid the doom and gloom? They’re hardly alone in this miserylovescompany offseason. By one measurement, the 49ers are doing better than many of the teams that stand in their way as they attempt to claim their second conference championship in three seasons in 2021.

Consider: The 49ers have about $13 million in cap space, which isn’t much, but it’s fifth most among the NFC’s 16 teams, the most in the NFC West and ranks 15th in the NFL, per OverTheCap.com.

So, yes, it’s possible the 49ers’ roster will be weaker at the end of free agency. However, NFC playoff teams such as the Packers, Rams and Saints

— all of whom rank among the league’s bottom seven in cap space — could experience a larger exodus of key players.

In August, after the NFL and the players’ union agreed to a significantly reduced cap in 2021, 49ers general manager John Lynch acknowledged it would present a financial challenge. The team had budgeted and structured their contracts anticipating the cap rising from $198.2 million in 2020 to about $215 million in 2021.

Instead, because of lost revenue caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the cap is expected to land around $180 million. Lynch took comfort that the 49ers would be joined by many other teams in asking the question: How are we going to pull this off ?

“If there’s any good news, it’s that everybody else wasn’t immune to that same uncertainty,” Lynch said. “We’re all playing from the same rules. Are certain teams better positioned to stomach that? Probably, but we’ll figure it out. We’re confident that we will.”

The 49ers will have to be creative to retain the players they value most from a group of 31 unrestricted or restricted free agents. It includes Trent Williams, who could become the NFL’s highestpaid offensive tackle, and Kyle Juszczyk, the league’s highestpaid fullback since 2017. In addition, they plan to sign Fred Warner to a contract extension that figures to make him the NFL’s highestpaid inside linebacker.

Their division rivals also face daunting tasks.

The Cardinals, for example, have $11.8 million in cap space and a group of free agents that includes AllPro cornerback Patrick Peterson, running back Kenyan Drake and pass rusher Haason Reddick, who ranked fourth in the NFL in sacks last season (12.5).

The Seahawks have $4.3 million in cap space, and their free agents include linebacker K.J. Wright and running back Chris Carson. AllPro safety Jamal Adams is seeking a contract extension, and Seattle might not be able to keep both of its top two defensive linemen, Carlos Dunlap and Jarran Reed, who are scheduled to count a combined $28 million against the cap.

The Rams? Yikes. They are $26.7 million over a projected cap of $180.5 million — one of 13 teams over the cap — and have seven starters with expiring contracts. That group includes outside linebacker Leonard Floyd (10.5 sacks in 2020), safety John Johnson, their leading tackler last season, and cornerback Darious Williams, who tied for seventh in the NFL in interceptions.

Last month, Rams general manager Les Snead said his team faced a “calculus problem.”

“We’d love to build a dream team,” Snead told reporters. “… But you can’t.”

The 49ers can’t, either. But they can say this in an unprecedented offseason: They’re hardly alone.