After 9 years, Brooks released

older than Brooks) — and was in the final year of a contract that included a $4.45 million base salary this season.

Last week, in a preseason loss to Denver, Brooks was replaced in the starting lineup by Eli Harold, 23, who will earn $634,000 in base salary on a contract that runs through 2018.

Brooks’ salary may not have been a major issue since the 49ers have a league-high $63.9 million in salary-cap space. However, his age made it clear he wasn’t part of their longterm plans. And his exit will give Harold, a 2015 third-round pick, a chance to show he can be a capable starter.

Brooks, a starter since 2011, had at least six sacks in each of the past six seasons.

“Ahmad can still do things — I think everybody knows that,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “He’s going to help somebody this year. … It’s really been nothing against Ahmad. It’s how are we going to get 53 guys on this team that are the right type of 53 guys? You think of guys that might not be as ready in Week 1, but they might be ready in Week 3.”

The release of Brooks is the latest in a series of housecleaning moves made by Shanahan and general manager John Lynch since they inherited a 2-14 team. Of the 89 players on their roster, 52 have been acquired since Lynch was hired.

Lynch has also discussed establishing a new culture, and Brooks had a history of off-thefield issues and had acknowledged he wasn’t a rally-the-troops leader.

“I don’t say too much,” Brooks said in November when the 49ers were in the midst of a 13-game losing streak. “Maybe I need to start saying a little more. Because I’ve been there. I’ve had experience.”

In 2015, Brooks was charged with misdemeanor sexual battery by the Santa Clara district attorney’s office and that case remains open. In 2013, Brooks wasn’t charged after he allegedly hit then-teammate Lamar Divens in the head three times with a beer bottle. In 2008, Brooks, then with the Bengals, was accused of punching a woman in the face and accepted mediation on the charges.

Brooks’ exit clears the path for Harold , whose career has included 14 starts and three sacks. In two preseason games, Harold has played 39 snaps and not appeared on the stat sheet.

Harold, who weighs 252 pounds, has dropped 18 pounds since last year when he felt his added weight contributed to health issues. Harold played the final nine games with a torn ligament in a big toe that required surgery in late January.

Shanahan noted Harold is strong against the run, and could have untapped potential.

“He’s a physical player who can set the edge,” Shanahan said. “I think he’s got a lot more in him. I think he can continue to improve. But I love the way he fights. … I think there’s a lot more to come.”

Shanahan, however, also didn’t anoint Harold. He said he was the 49ers’ starter “right now” and noted the 49ers do have other options beyond Harold’s backups, who are Dekoda Watson and rookie sixth-round pick Pita Taumoepenu. In passing situations, when the 49ers use their nickel defense, the 49ers could turn to a more accomplished passrusher such as Aaron Lynch to assume Harold’s spot.

“We also have some guys who have the ability to play there who aren’t listed there” on the depth chart, Shanahan said.

For his part, Harold said he didn’t feel that he was done competing for playing time.

“Knowing you’ve got guys around you that are just as good, I feel like that brings the best out of you,” he said. “… Each and every day you don’t know what can happen because this guy is breathing down my back.”