In 2023, the San Francisco 49ers finished with a record of 12-5, making them the top team in the NFC. After two challenging playoff victories, the 49ers found themselves in a familiar situation – returning to the Super Bowl. However, their path to victory was blocked once again by Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. This was a repeat of the scenario they faced in 2019. Unfortunately, the 49ers were defeated by the Chiefs with a score of 25-22, marking their second Super Bowl loss in the last five years.
Despite coming so close once again, the 49ers are facing financial constraints heading into the 2024 season. With only $570,000 in salary cap space, the team has limited resources to work with. ESPN’s Dan Graziano suggests that there is a possibility of FB Kyle Juszczyk being released during the offseason. Juszczyk, an eight-time Pro Bowler, may need to restructure his contract if he remains with the team.
According to a tweet by @sportslarryk on 49ers’ offseason (@WillardAndDibs), there is a likelihood that the 49ers will part ways with Kyle Juszczyk. There is also a chance that Dre Greenlaw may be cut, and if an agreement cannot be reached with Aiyuk, a trade may be necessary.
In today’s NFL, finding true full-backs is a challenge. The league has become heavily focused on passing, making the presence of a full-back less beneficial for most teams. However, run-dominant teams like the 49ers still value the role of a full-back. Kyle Juszczyk has been a standout player in his position for over five years. During the recent season, Juszczyk received his eighth Pro Bowl nomination and was honored as a first-team All-Pro for the first time in his career.
Juszczyk’s importance to the San Francisco team cannot be denied. Even before the acquisition of Christian McCaffrey in 2022, the full-back played a significant role in their offense. With McCaffrey now on the team, Juszczyk’s role has become even more crucial. In 2023, McCaffrey led the NFL in rushing yards with 1,459, often benefiting from Juszczyk’s lead blocking.
There is little chance that Kyle Juszczyk will be cut from the team, as there are currently no suitable replacements available, and the team has not developed anyone for that position. The situation with Greenlaw is more complicated, as he is likely to miss the entire season and would require a payment of $10 million, or the team could choose to release him and save approximately $7 million. The situation with Aiyuk is also uncertain.
In the upcoming season, the 32-year-old player is expected to earn $6.25 million in salary and additional payments for the 49ers. He will receive a similar amount in 2025 as well. However, none of this money is guaranteed, providing the Niners with a convenient option to release him during this offseason. Considering the current composition of their roster, this does not appear to be a beneficial move for the team. In fact, San Francisco may request him to modify his contract during this offseason. This approach demonstrates his commitment to the team and ensures his presence with the Niners until at least 2024 and 2025. The utilization of the funds owed to Juszcsyk over the next two seasons remains uncertain and will require further observation.
According to the Source sportslens.com