Trubisky? Sanders? 49ers may stun again

Last year, the 49ers opened free agency with a shocker: They traded AllPro defensive tackle, team captain and presumed franchise pillar DeForest Buckner to the Colts.

That recent history is worth bearing in mind as the soft launch of free agency opens Monday with a twoday “legal tampering” period before teams can sign players Wednesday.

According to the NFLPA, the 49ers entered Saturday with the league’s 14thmost salary cap space ($24.1 million). That figure increased to nearly $32 million after they restructured the contract of starting center Weston Richburg, 29, who is expected to retire after undergoing surgeries on his quadriceps, knee, shoulder and hip since the end of the 2018 season. The restructure, which created $6.9 million in cap room, was reported by NFL Network on Saturday.

The 49ers could spend their cash in such a way that makes the free agency period dramafree. They would like to retain Pro Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk and Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams, who is expected to command more than $20 million annually and become the league’s highestpaid offensive lineman. In addition, lock

ing up cornerback Jason Verrett and slot corner K’Waun Williams are priorities. Keeping that quartet, along with signing AllPro linebacker Fred Warner to a contract extension this offseason, could leave room for only a few lowwattage signings.

However, Trent Williams has repeatedly indicated he will see what his value is on the open market. And the Jets, who have gobs of cap space and will use the 49ers’ offensive and defensive schemes with former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh in charge, figure to be among the teams competing for Juszczyk, Verrett and K’Waun Williams.

So surprises could be in store. And it’s worth noting that head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, who are accessible and transparent by the standards of a paranoid and lockedlip league, haven’t talked to the local media since Jan. 4. Without the combine this year, an event at which many coaches and GMs speak with reporters, teams were encouraged to have virtual media availability before free agency. The 49ers were among a handful of teams that stayed silent.

Perhaps they wanted to avoid another round of their awkward public tap dance — praising quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo while declining to commit to him. Or perhaps they wanted to eliminate any chance they’d tip their hand to another shocker that’s in store.

Whatever the case, here are free agents Lynch and Shanahan might soon speak with: Falcons center Alex Mack

This one is just too easy. The 49ers need a starting center. Shanahan places a huge value on the position, and his teams (Browns, 2014; Falcons, 2016) signed Mack in Shanahan’s final two stops as an offensive coordinator.

Oh, right, another thing: Mack is good.

At 35, the sixtime Pro Bowl selection and 12year veteran has bid farewell to his prime. However, he would be an upgrade after Ben Garland and Daniel Brunskill filled in last year when Richburg missed the season. Mack’s durability — he’s started 94 of his teams’ past 96 games — is desirable for a team with trouble keeping players on the field.

The 49ers could fill out this position in the offseason by investing a mid to lateround draft pick who could learn behind Mack. An intriguing possibility is Stanford center Drew Dalman, whose dad Craig was an offensive lineman with the 49ers his entire sevenseason career. Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky

There’s been a lot of smoke surrounding the 49ers making a trade for Jets quarterback Sam Darnold, 23, the No. 3 pick in 2018 whose early career struggles are at least partly due to a subpar supporting cast.

They could save a draft pick and sign Trubisky, 27, the No. 2 pick in 2017 whose early career struggles are at least partly due to a subpar supporting cast. (Quick, name a Bears wide receiver besides Allen Robinson.)

Unlike other freeagent backup QB options such as Ryan Fitzpatrick, 39, Alex Smith, 37, Andy Dalton, 34, and Jacoby Brissett, 29, there’s a possibility (perhaps slight) that Trubisky, in Shanahan’s offense, could transform into a longterm answer if Garoppolo, the presumptive starter, is injured again or struggles.

Darnold would cost a pick and $4.77 million in salary in 2021. Trubisky, who has a far better career passer rating (87.2 to 78.6) and completion percentage (64.0 to 59.8) than Darnold, could probably be signed for a similar cost.

Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders

Before he was overthrown by Garoppolo in Super Bowl LIV, Sanders was a Shanahan

David Richard / Associated Press Alex Mack knows his way to the Pro Bowl — he’s been six times — but the exBrowns center is entering his 13th year.

Bruce Kluckhohn / Associated Press Mitchell Trubisky, the No. 2 pick in 2017, could come to S.F. and silence his wild array of critics. Or just come to S.F.