For the most part, the signings with the 49ers this offseason were prudent and cost-effective. They really didn’t overpay anyone. Aric Armstead’s release was a shock, but it wasn’t a mistake. This was wise, however, as armsteads are expensive and don’t last long.
The 49ers can no longer have a player like him on their roster. But the reason Armstead’s transfer fee was so high and the 49ers had to waive him is because Armstead’s contract was restructured in 2023, after he was already over 30 years old. That was a mistake, and the 49ers paid for it by cutting him this offseason.
They then made the same mistake of restructuring the contracts of two other players over 30, Javon Hargrave and George Kittle. Haven’t the 49ers learned their lesson? Apparently not. These contract restructurings have increased the 49ers’ cap space this year, but reduced it in 2025, meaning the 49ers are currently about $10 million over their cap space.
And that’s before Brandon Aiyuk’s extension and the upcoming rookie class. This means the 49ers could be nearly $20 million over next year’s cap, which is not ideal.
The 49ers are one of the oldest teams in the league. They need to start moving away from players like Armstead, Hargrave, and Kittle and move on to paying younger players like Aiyuk and Brock Purdy. Continually restructuring older players’ contracts every offseason is bad business, and the 49ers will pay the price. They already do that.
