49ers notebook: Tough decisions come after Super Bowl loss
The loss in Sunday night’s Super Bowl is going to sting. But, at some point, the 49ers are going to have to start thinking about the tough decisions they have this offseason for a chance to play in next year’s Super Bowl in Tampa.
It starts with their free key free agents. The team’s leader in sacks, Arik Armstead, the top receiver, Emmanuel Sanders, and the free safety on the league’s top passing defense, Jimmie Ward, could all hit the open market.
And they also have to think about new contracts for some of their best young players, All-Pro tight end George Kittle and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who had 1.5 sacks, three quarterbacks hits and a tackle for loss against the Chiefs. Both players are eligible for new deals, though they are under contract for 2020 and might be in search for financial security ahead of the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement following the coming season.
The upcoming draft will be difficult to navigate as the team currently doesn’t have picks in rounds 2 through 4 because they traded a second to the Chiefs for pass rusher Dee Ford, and third- and fourth-round choices for Sanders.
The 49ers have roughly $14 million in cap space heading into next season. They have some likely cut or restructure candidates that could clear more space, including running back Jerick McKinnon, ($4.5 million in savings) and Tevin Coleman ($4.9 million).
Armstead had a career year while not missing a game for the second straight season. He led the team with 10 sacks while also being a strong run player. Sanders gave the offense a much-needed boost at receiver and might be able to come back at a relatively modest price, given his age. He’ll turn 33 in March.
Ward is an interesting case. He was one of the best free safeties in the NFL throughout the season while San Francisco’s secondary had a massive turnaround. But his career has been littered with injuries. He ended four of his previous five years on injured reserve and missed the first three games of this season with a hand injury after spending his summer working back from a fractured collar bone. He made $4.5 million this season and could likely double it going into next year.
The team’s other free agents include Ben Garland, who filled in admirably at center after Weston Richburg went down with a season-ending knee injury in early December. Interior defensive tackle Sheldon Day is also unsigned, as is Ronald Blair III, whose depth at defensive end was invaluable until he went down with a torn ACL midway through the season.
Bosa shines in postseason debut
No. 2 overall draft pick Nick Bosa, who won the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year Award on Saturday, had four sacks in his three postseason games, and forced a fumble of Patrick Mahomes in Sunday’s Super Bowl.
He became the first rookie with four or more sacks in a single postseason since Patriots defensive end Garin Veris (4.0) in 1985 and just the third since 1982.
▪ Deebo Samuel’s 53 rushing yards Sunday were the most ever by a receiver in the Super Bowl.
▪ Second-year pro Dante Pettis was made inactive before the game so the 49ers could have Jeff Wilson Jr. available as a fourth running back for insurance as Tevin Coleman played after dislocated his right shoulder two weeks prior in the NFC title game.
Coleman had five carries and 28 yards. Wilson caught one pass for 20 yards. Pettis being inactive meant the 49ers had only four receivers available.
This story was originally published February 2, 2020 at 10:21 PM with the headline "49ers notebook: Tough decisions come after Super Bowl loss."