The San Francisco 49ers have just $6.7 million in 2024 cap space to work with and are already projected to be more than $20 million over the 2025 salary cap.
With a long-term extension for QB Brock Purdy on next offseason’s docket, the 49ers will have to save somewhere — and that may force San Francisco to choose between wideouts Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.
San Francisco 49ers News Today
The Niners have plenty of decisions to make this offseason and will soon host their pro day to evaluate prospects residing in nearby regions before the NFL Draft.
Will the 49ers Trade Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel?
Aiyuk has been a commonly mentioned trade candidate in San Francisco and is close to reaching free agency.
Aiyuk is scheduled to earn $14.124 million on his 2024 fifth-year option. He will hit the open market in 2025 unless the 49ers extend him or apply the franchise tag, which should cost roughly $25 million next season, per Over the Cap.
Pro Football Network’s Dallas Robinson suggests that the Niners should choose to keep Aiyuk over Samuel.
“Getting a new deal done for Aiyuk won’t be easy … But Aiyuk is worth the money,” Robinson wrote. “He finished sixth among WRs in yards per route run (2.65) in 2023 … the 28-year-old Samuel is two years and two months older than Aiyuk, and his physical style of play inherently makes him more of an injury risk.”
KEEP READING: Why the 49ers Should Trade Samuel Over Aiyuk
49ers Invite WR Terique Owens, Son of Terrell Owens, to Local Pro Day
The 49ers are gearing up for their local pro day on Wednesday, April 10. According to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, the team invited former Missouri State wide receiver Terique Owens, son of Hall of Fame receiver Terrell Owens, to participate.
The 2023 season was the younger Owens’ most productive college campaign as he tallied 28 receptions for 528 yards (18.9 yards per catch) and secured four touchdowns with the Bears.
The 49ers were among several teams that observed Owens’ performance during his workout session on March 22 at the University of Missouri’s Pro Day. The draft prospect recorded a 40-time of 4.51 seconds, a vertical jump of 38.5″, and a broad jump of 10’4″.
ORIGINAL SOURCE: Matt Barrows on X (Formerly Twitter)
Arik Armstead Says Houston Texans Tried To Trade for Him After 49ers Release
Defensive lineman Arik Armstead was released by the 49ers last month, but he said on his Third and Long podcast that the Houston Texans worked to keep him from hitting the open market before the cut became official.
“The Texans tried to trade for me, didn’t even want me to become a free agent. I thought I was going there. Trade fell through. Boom, I end up hitting free agency,” Armstead said.
Armstead said he heard interest from the Buffalo Bills and other teams once he became a free agent, but he wound up signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans will be facing him a couple of times this season rather than deploying him on their own defensive line.
The 49ers announced their release of Armstead on March 13 after he declined a cut to his 2024 base salary, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.
He signed a new contract with the Jaguars on March 15 for three years and $51 million after he turned down an offer for significantly less money from the 49ers.
SEE MORE: Armstead’s Third and Long Podcast on YouTube