INDIANAPOLIS -- Coming off a Super Bowl appearance, the 49ers would like a do-over this year with the same players who suited up for the club during the 2019 season.
But for the first time since taking over as the main decision-makers with the organization, general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan will not be able to keep all of the players they would like to bring back.
The 49ers finally have enough talent on their team where they simply will not be able to afford to retain all of their players this offseason.
“This is the first time that I want every single person on our team back because I think we have a team that can win a Super Bowl,” Shanahan said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I think we showed that last year. So, whenever you have that, it is really tough. When have you ever been able to bring back the exact same team no matter where you’ve been?
“So that is a lot harder, especially with our cap situation. So it is cool to know that that’s what we want and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
The 49ers have a projected $13.1 million salary cap space, according to OverTheCap.com.
The first three offseasons for Lynch and Shanahan consisted of determining the players who did not fit into the future, along with collecting individuals who could provide upgrades. After finding the right formula and experiencing success in 2019, it now becomes impossible to keep everybody around.
San Francisco 49ers
Defensive lineman Arik Armstead had a breakout season with a team-leading 10 sacks during the regular season, as well as two more in the postseason. He is scheduled for unrestricted free agency and a big payday. If the 49ers are unable to work out a multi-year deal with Armstead, they have the option of placing the franchise tag on him at the cost of approximately $19 million for one season.
“With respect to Arik, that is an option on the table,” Lynch said of the franchise tag. “We haven’t made that decision, yet. But it is an option at our disposal. We’ll see where that goes.”
The 49ers also would like to re-sign wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and safety Jimmie Ward, but it might not be possible with big money deals being set aside in the near future for tight end George Kittle and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
“There are so many connecting parts on that with people who are up now and people who are up later,” Shanahan said. “Are you just trying to do it for one year -- just sell the farm for one year -- or have your best chances over a two- or three-year span?”
Shanahan said those are the questions that a club has to continually ask itself while constantly re-evaluating the plan based on the level of contracts it requires to retain or acquire players. The 49ers might not be active on the free-agent market, but Lynch said he believes the 49ers have gotten to the point where they are seen as a destination for veteran players.
“We have a lot of real talented players,” Lynch said. “I suspect in free agency, whether we’re big players or not, I think we’ve become a place that people want to be. So that’s a great thing. We’ve worked hard for that.”
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While Shanahan and his staff begin the process of poring over film and evaluating the entire season, the management team will attempt to work with agents to ensure there is as little turnover on the roster as possible. The unsettled collective bargaining agreement is also a complication in contract talks.
Running back Jerick McKinnon and wide receiver Marquise Goodwin face uncertain futures with the 49ers due to their sizable contracts. The 49ers also have to make decisions on restricted free agents, such as running back Matt Breida, wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and linebacker Elijah Lee. The 49ers have yet to finalize decisions on those playeers, Lynch said.