The San Francisco 49ers organization over the last three years has demonstrated not only dominance on the field but also in the front office. Constructing a team that currently boasts seven All-Pros, from winning its division to winning its conference and making a Super Bowl appearance in 2023, the road that John Lynch has paved seems to be made of gold. There’s one small problem, though. The road keeps leading to the same destination that 30 other teams find themselves at by the end of the season.
The 49ers at this point have enjoyed the benefit of having a star quarterback on a rookie contract, giving them the flexibility to build a roster without the financial handcuffs of a massive franchise-quarterback cap hit. This is an advantage that the organization has been able to enjoy but undoubtedly will not be able to continue to exploit. The signing of free-agent running back Christian McCaffrey is easily the most notable addition to the team and the most impactful All-Pro player on the roster. The 49ers have extended McCaffrey, showing the fans and McCaffrey his value to the roster and to the team’s plans moving forward. Sometimes contract extensions also open the door for questions. What question, you ask? How about… “Where’s my money?”
That is the question every front office is really afraid of. When every valuable player on any given roster starts to demand compensation for their production, something has to give. The salary cap goes up every year, but so do the demands of Pro Bowl and All-Pro players, and especially quarterbacks, regardless of accomplishments. Knowing that this is the case, every general manager of every organization knows that this creates what we now call “the window.” The window can be explained as the number of years a team has maximized its salary cap to compile the most talent it can, making that team a championship contender.
The 49ers have managed to meet that definition by stockpiling the highest-paid players at a number of important positions, including pass rusher (Nick Bosa) and left tackle (Trent Williams). Studs like Fred Warner and George Kittle embody what the 49ers want to be on the field, and their paychecks reflect that. Having a ton of talent is a first-world problem, but a problem nonetheless. Brandon Aiyuk is the math problem the 49ers’ front office just hasn’t been able to solve yet. His presence on the field is undeniable, making play after play, whether it’s by catching the ball or making a physical block downfield to spring a teammate for a touchdown. His 1,342-yard and 7-touchdown performance in 2023 landed him on the “where’s my money” list for 2024, and the wide receiver market has absolutely skyrocketed. Aiyuk would certainly land a deal placing his cap number in the $30 million range, and that number directly impacts depth as well as cash on hand for other stars yet to be extended, chief among them Brock Purdy.
Purdy has outperformed not just his draft position as “Mr. Irrelevant,” but also his small annual salary of less than $1 million. His contribution to the team is visible on the field on Sunday and then again at the bank on Monday. He has literally afforded the 49ers the chance to compete for a championship on credit, and now the balance is due. Although the team will be returning the majority of its starters and impact players from last year’s Super Bowl roster, this is likely the last year that will be possible. If and when Aiyuk and the team reach an extension, the next man up is Brock Purdy, and as soon as the ink is dry on his deal, the Golden Gate is closed. No more stacked rosters with exciting free-agent signings year over year. The 49ers will be just like every other team, with the awkward good fortune of securing a franchise quarterback. Can the front office brass still shine with a $55 million dent in it?
Whatever the future holds for the 49ers in this 2024 season, it is likely that the best shot they will have at the Lombardi Trophy for the foreseeable future is right now. The window isn’t yet shut for the scarlet and gold team out West, but the sun is starting to set, and the shades are being drawn. But there’s only one question on every fan’s mind: Can this year’s team finally bring home the gold across that Golden Gate?
