Just four years ago, the 49ers were coming off their third NFC championship game appearance in as many seasons. They looked poised to be one of the dominant teams of the decade.
Since then it has been nothing but chaos in San Francisco, and three different head coaches combined for just 15 wins from 2014 to 2016.
With a new general manager and head coach in place, the 49ers are optimistic that they can fix their mess. And with nearly $80 million in cap room, they have the potential to make big changes in a hurry.
Here's a breakdown of the 49ers' offseason options.
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49ers quarterback decision
Kirk Cousins?
The 49ers can address the quarterback position in a number of ways in 2017. Some very expensive options might be available. Some second tier QBs might have some upside playing under coach Kyle Shanahan. The 49ers also could go the route of a cheap, one-year stopgap and/or just draft a player — a slower route to the return of respectability.
The expensive option that exists for the 49ers is Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins, who was Washington's franchise player last year. He's expected to be tagged again, and while the franchise tag doesn’t prevent a player from talking to other teams, it does attach a price of two first-round draft picks if he signs with another team. Despite that high price, teams in the past have worked out side agreements on trades for less than those two draft picks.
If the Redskins can’t agree with Cousins on a long-term contract this year, the cost for them to keep him in 2018 would be an absurd $35 million, which would not make much sense for Washington.
At that point, the best the Redskins could do would be a third-round compensatory pick, which they would receive 2019. So an offer from the 49ers — perhaps the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft and one more selection — should be tempting for Washington if it dos not have long-term plans with Cousins.
The 49ers have the cap room to easily fit any contract for Cousins, and he already has a relationship with Shanahan. But, while the 49ers would be expected to improve to at least .500 with Cousins, a big jump from where they are now, such a high draft pick and a contract of $24 million-plus per year present a high price to pay.
Colin Kaepernick?
San Francisco might decide that its best option is incumbent Colin Kaepernick, who like rival Russell Wilson of the Seahawks was supposed to have the potential to be one of the next generation's great quarterbacks. Wilson more or less has kept up his end of the bargain, while Kaepernick’s career has gone downhill since the minute he signed a large contract extension in 2014. Kaepernick found himself benched for Blaine Gabbert until the former was willing to forego large injury protection in his contract.
Kaepernick at times in 2016 was dazzling, but at other times, he was atrocious. There's also the negativity that comes with the status quo and questions about how much a coach can teach a 30-year-old QB who has gone through three head coaches in three years.
Kaepernick's current salary is $16.9 million, so the two sides would need to negotiate lower valued contract for his return to make any sense.
Jay Cutler?
Shanahan’s father Mike was a big proponent of Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, and the 49ers might sense some upside in a quarterback like him under the right head coach.
Cutler has a great arm but hasn’t been on a winning team since 2012. He presents an injury risk and can wear on teammates, but he's the kind of player, even at age 34, who a confident coach can work with to navigate a playoff run. Cutler would fall in the mid-tier price range, $8 million-$10 million with upside to earn more.
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NFL draft?
If none of those options entice the 49ers, they probably will look to draft a quarterback and go for a cheap, one-year stopgap in the $2 million to $4 million range who knows Shanahan’s system and can help the younger player learn it.
The two names to look at for that situation are Matt Schaub and Brian Hoyer, who had the best years of their careers working with Shanahan. Neither player is exciting, but either should be able to help the offense look professional and, if things break perfectly, put San Francisco in the wild-card hunt.
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49ers free agency options
The 49ers have never been a big spending team. They have been conservative with many of their own players and have stayed out of the fray when it comes to big bidding wars in free agency.
That might change this season.
New general manager John Lynch comes from the media world, where free agency usually is given more attention than it gets in the league itself. Shanahan also has been around teams that are no strangers to the use of free agency as a team-building tool. The 49ers already made one minor move when they signed Earl Mitchell to a four-year, $16 million contract, a pretty big price for an often injured, part-time player.
The 49ers lack talent almost everywhere on the field, but with $80 million or so to spend in free agency, that can change in a hurry if they choose to be aggressive.
Outside of quarterback, receiver might be San Francisco's biggest need. Alshon Jeffery likely will command top dollar, which would mean a contract in the $15 million range. Other, cheaper options like Kenny Stills exist, but Jeffery is a safer bet.
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A number of intriguing cornerback options will be available, too, including Stephon Gilmore, Dre Kirkpatrick and AJ Bouye. All are expected to earn big contracts in the $12 million-14 million per year range. Second-tier corners include Prince Amukamara and Morris Claiborne.
As for linebackers, the free agency group is not as deep, with Dont’a Hightower being the only big name assuming he is not franchised. The second best available might be Nick Perry of the Packers. If the 49ers want to upgrade their defensive line, they could make a play for veteran end Calais Campbell of the Cardinals.
While winning the free agency championship does not often lead to a Super Bowl championship, such a victory for the 49ers at least would return them to some respectability. It also would put on display a commitment to winning, which the fan base has not seen for a few years.
The 49ers have the cash to pull it off, but until they commit to some players, nobody is going to believe that a turnaround will happen.