San Francisco 49ers: 5 Cap-saving cuts to make in 2020 offseason
2. Jerick McKinnon
When you watch the San Francisco 49ers offense, it’s quite apparent why they wanted to sign Jerick McKinnon to a lucrative deal in 2018 free agency. While with the Vikings, the back showcased tremendous speed, explosiveness and versatility coming out fo the backfield. Unfortunately, we’ve not gotten the chance to see that as ACL injuries have kept him off the field in both 2018 and 2019.
Making $8.55 million in 2020 and $9.2 million in 2021, McKinnon is an expensive asset that the 49ers haven’t seen on the field and, obviously, they’re capable of succeeding without him. By cutting him from the loaded backfield, the 49ers would save $4.55 million in the 2020 season. Again, there’s no reason to believe he couldn’t succeed in Shanahan’s offense but his value just isn’t there at this point.
1. Marquise Goodwin
When he’s healthy and on the field, Marquise Goodwin has showcased his world-class speed and how lethal it can be against opposing defenses. Particularly when Garoppolo was out in the ill-fated 2018 season, Goodwin really made a name for himself as a deep threat in the offense. In 2019, however, his role was almost nonexistent as he was limited to only nine games and registered only 12 receptions.
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With health a concern (12 missed games over the past two seasons) and some younger pieces in the wide receiver corps, Goodwin seems like perhaps the most natural cut candidate to save cap space. San Francisco can recoup $3.656 million with only $1.25 million in dead cap hit. For what he offers in this offense, the savings would be more valuable to the Niners.