San Francisco 49ers make major roster changes, cutting players and increasing dead cap charges as they aim for a younger, cheaper team in 2025. (GV Wire Composite/Paul Marshall)

- 49ers face significant roster overhaul, cutting key players and seeing free agents depart following disappointing 2024 season.
- Team projects over $86 million in dead cap charges for 2025, with additional $21.5 million pushed to 2026 cap.
- Several former 49ers, including Hargrave and Collins, quickly sign lucrative deals with new teams in free agency.
Share
SANTA CLARA — The San Francisco 49ers cut defensive linemen Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins at the start of the new league year on Wednesday in the latest moves to overhaul the roster.
The 49ers have cut four key contributors, traded star receiver Deebo Samuel to Washington and saw seven other free agents leave for other teams this week as the team resets the roster following a disappointing 6-11 season in 2024.
The Niners made a big push last season after losing the Super Bowl in overtime to Kansas City the previous year but fell far short because of a slew of injuries and players underperforming.
General manager John Lynch said last month that the Niners would look to become younger and cheaper in 2025 and the moves made already this month are a major part of that.
They do come with a cost as the Niners are currently projected to have more than $86 million — more than one-quarter of their adjusted salary cap — allotted to players no longer on the team through dead money charges. That money is based on bonuses already paid to players that haven’t hit the cap.
San Francisco delayed some of the pain from the moves with Hargrave and Collins by designating them as post-June 1 cuts, which will push $21.5 million of additional dead money to the 2026 cap.
Key Players Find New Homes
Hargrave was cut two years after signing a four-year, $81 million deal with San Francisco. Hargarve played in only three games in 2024 before suffering a torn triceps muscle that required surgery. He immediately agreed with Minnesota on a two-year, $30 million contract with $19 million guaranteed, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus.
Collins was acquired in a trade from Houston last offseason and had five sacks but struggled in run defense in his only season with the Niners. He immediately agreed on a two-year, $20 million contract that includes $13 million fully guaranteed with Cleveland, Rosenhaus said.
San Francisco previously cut defensive end Leonard Floyd and fullback Kyle Juszczyk this week.
Related Story: 49ers Lose Several Key Players on Opening Day of Free Agency
Several other key players agreed to deals in free agency Monday. Standout defenders Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga reached deals with Denver; star cornerback Charvarius Ward agreed to a deal with Indianapolis; backup tackle Jaylon Moore and running back Elijah Mitchell agreed to deals with Kansas City; and backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs left for New England.
Those deals were all confirmed by people familiar with the agreements who spoke on condition of anonymity because they can’t be signed until Wednesday.
Starting left guard Aaron Banks also reportedly has agreed to a deal with Green Bay.
The Niners did make a few small moves, agreeing to a contract with former Seattle cornerback Tre Brown and re-signing linebacker Curtis Robinson to a one-year deal.
RELATED TOPICS:
Two Men Identified as Suspects in Fresno County 2016 Double Homicide
7 hours ago
Chargers Sign Former Steelers Running Back Najee Harris and Cornerback Donte Jackson
7 hours ago
Military Leaders Warn of Risks to Armed Forces’ Readiness in Temporary Funding Bill
7 hours ago
Trump to Name Michelle Bowman as Top Bank Regulator at Federal Reserve
8 hours ago
Kuwait Frees a Group of Jailed Americans, Including Contractors Held on Drug Charges
8 hours ago
Senate Democrats Balk at Funding Extension, Raising the Risk of a Shutdown
8 hours ago
SpaceX Delays Flight to Replace NASA’s Stuck Astronauts After Launch Pad Problem
5 hours ago
Categories

SpaceX Delays Flight to Replace NASA’s Stuck Astronauts After Launch Pad Problem

49ers Cut 2 More Players, Increasing Dead Cap Charge to More Than $86 Million

Two Men Identified as Suspects in Fresno County 2016 Double Homicide
