The San Francisco 49ers possess one of the most skilled rosters we have witnessed from an NFL team in recent recollection. They have been the favorites to win the Super Bowl for the entirety of the season and will have the advantage in betting against Patrick Mahomes and his team in this upcoming Sunday’s momentous game.
The management of the San Francisco team has done an excellent job in handling the team’s salary cap and financial allocations. Through restructures, they had the largest amount of cap space among all teams during the 2023 season, and they are projected to have over $1 million remaining under the cap as they enter the off-season. Therefore, even though they will become significantly costly in a few years, they still have a window of opportunity to spend for the next year, regardless of the outcome of this year’s Super Bowl.
So, who are the highest earners? Here are the five players from the 49ers’ Super Bowl roster who received the most money during the 2023 season:
The season commenced with Bosa engaging in a contract holdout, which concluded just before Week 1. He signed a five-year agreement to continue playing for the team during his peak years, although his contract is structured in an intriguing manner. While his base salary for 2023 amounted to $1,010,000, he also received a signing bonus of $50 million. In total, he earned over $51 million, making him the third-highest earner among all NFL players this season, trailing only Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes.
Hargrave was one of the notable additions to the team during the 2023 off-season, joining the San Francisco defensive line after a successful Super Bowl run with the Philadelphia team. He played in all 16 possible games (excluding Week 18 when starters were rested), qualified for his second Pro Bowl, and solidified the interior defensive line for the 49ers. He achieved 7 sacks throughout the year, made 44 combined tackles, and earned just under $25 million for his contributions.
Arguably the best player in his position, Williams is a crucial element in the success of the 49ers’ offensive strategy. The team has struggled when he is absent from the lineup, highlighting his importance as one of the most essential offensive linemen in the NFL. His primary responsibility lies in creating openings for his team’s playmakers. In 2024, he will enter the fourth year of a six-year contract and will receive a similar amount of compensation as he did this year.
The defensive secondary of the 49ers was identified as a potential weakness. However, in 2023, one of their players, Ward, made a significant impact by intercepting 5 passes, including a pick-6. This outstanding performance led to his selection for the Pro Bowl and Second-Team All-Pro honors. As Ward is in the final year of his three-year contract with San Francisco, contract negotiations will undoubtedly become a topic of discussion.
Despite the focus on the team’s offense, it is noteworthy that four out of the top five highest earners on the 49ers roster last season were from the defensive side of the ball. While Bosa is widely recognized as an exceptional player in his position, Warner stands out as one of the best linebackers in the entire NFL. Although the team has the option to terminate his contract this year, the decrease in his dead cap money in 2024 provides ample reason for the 49ers to retain him and engage in discussions regarding a new agreement.