Roster turnover year-to-year is expected in the NFL, and similarly to the end of last season, the San Francisco 49ers have a sizable group from the 2022 roster set to hit the open market. A total of 27 players with expiring contracts will officially enter free agency at the start of the new NFL league year on March 15. The open negotiating period for unrestricted free agents begins on March 13.
Fortunately for the 49ers, and the rest of the teams across the league, there will be some extra resources to work with as coaches and front offices are constructing their rosters for the upcoming season. The NFL salary cap has been increased to $224.8 million per club, allowing clubs an additional $16.6 million from the $208.6 million salary cap in 2022.
Here is a breakdown of free agency designations and an important glossary of terms, according to NFL.com:
Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA): Any player with four or more accrued seasons and an expired contract; free to negotiate and sign with any team.
Restricted Free Agent (RFA): A player with three accrued seasons and an expired contract. RFAs are free to negotiate and sign with any team, but their original team can offer them one of various qualifying offers ("tenders") that come with the right of first refusal and/or draft-pick compensation.
Exclusive Rights Free Agent (ERFA): Any player with fewer than three accrued seasons and an expired contract. If his original team offers him a one-year contract at the league minimum (based on his credited seasons), the player cannot negotiate with other teams.
Accrued seasons: Used to determine a player's free agency status (unrestricted, restricted, exclusive rights). In order to accrue a season, a player must have been on (or should have been on) full-play status for at least six regular-season games in a given season. A player under contract must report to his team's training camp on his mandatory reporting date in order to earn an accrued season.
Below is the full list of 49ers free agents:
Unrestricted Free Agents:
- LB Azeez Al-Shaair
- OL Jake Brendel
- OL Daniel Brunskill
- TE Ross Dwelley
- DL Samson Ebukam
- QB Jimmy Garoppolo
- S Tashaun Gipson Sr.
- K Robbie Gould
- DL Maurice Hurst
- DL Kerry Hyder Jr.
- QB Josh Johnson
- TE Tyler Kroft
- TE Jordan Matthews
- DL T.Y. McGill
- T Mike McGlinchey
- DB Tarvarius Moore
- CB Emmanuel Moseley
- DL Charles Omenihu
- LS Taybor Pepper
- DL Hassan Ridgeway
- CB Jason Verrett
- DB Jimmie Ward
- DL Jordan Willis
Restricted Free Agents:
- LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
- DL Kevin Givens
- OL Colton McKivitz
Exclusive Rights Free Agent:
- WR Jauan Jennings
