The 49ers will give us a better idea of how they value the special teamer and running back.
The NFL released the 2019 salary cap, and with it comes details on the contract tenders for the franchise and transition tags, and also restricted free agent tenders. All of those are based on how the salary cap shakes out. Now that those numbers are known, we have a better handle on the salaries two of the 49ers free agents will be making.
The kicker/punter franchise tag has been set at $4,971,000. That will be Robbie Gould’s salary if he and the San Francisco 49ers are unable to come to terms on a contract extension before July 15th. If they do not agree to a deal by then, they cannot negotiate an extension until after the last game of the regular season.
Meanwhile, Raheem Mostert is the team’s one restricted free agent. RFAs can sign with another team, but the terms of how they are tendered by their original team impacts how likely they are to get offer sheets. There are five tender options, starting with right of first refusal only and ending with a first round pick compensation plus phrasing on a new team promising not to franchise or transition tag the player in the future. These salaries are based on one-year tenders.
Right of first refusal (ROFR) only: $2,025,000
ROFR and compensation of pick from draft player was drafted: $2,025,000 or 110% of 2018 salary, whichever is greater
ROFR and compensation of second round draft pick: $3,095,000 or 110% of 2018 salary, whichever is greater
ROFR and compensation of first round draft pick: $4,407,000 or 110% of 2018 salary, whichever is greater
ROFR and compensation of first round draft pick, but any provision in offer sheet waiving/limiting new club’s ability to use franchise or transition tag is not a term that must be matched by new club: $4,907,000 or 110% of 2018 salary, whichever is greater
The 49ers have a decision to make on as to what they want to do with Mostert. He is a key special teams player, but will they decide he is worth more than the minimal tender for that role? He showed considerable promise as a running back this season before breaking his arm, but he is also clearly behind Jerick McKinnon and Matt Breida on the depth chart.
The team has the cap space to use any of the tenders, but I highly doubt they use the first round tender. I suspect they used the right of first refusal tender (he’s a UDFA, so the original round tender has no value), but their choice on this will give us a better handle as to just how much they value Mostert.
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