The 49ers entered 2020 NFL free agency intent on keeping together a rising team that unexpectedly made it all the way to Super Bowl LIV last season after sputtering to a four-win season the year before.
Mission accomplished. Almost. The 49ers pointedly worked to keep around their own throughout the opening stage of free agency in March, when practically every move they made had to do with retaining the same players that took them last season to the pinnacle of NFL success.
Of the 22 veterans that were headed for some form of free agency this year, the 49ers had either signed or tendered offers to a dozen of them — and most that were vital to the team’s 2019 chemistry and prosperity.
Only one big name was missing. Of their three front-line starters eligible for unrestricted free agency — San Francisco’s other 19 starters on offense and defense from last season already were under contract for 2020 — the 49ers were able to re-sign defensive lineman Arik Armstead and free safety Jimmie Ward after their breakout seasons to contracts worth a combined $113.5 million.
But that left not enough in the team’s monetary reserves to bring back wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, whose appearance in San Francisco after a midseason trade revitalized the team in general and the offense in particular, setting up the 33-year-old veteran for one final big payday in free agency. Sanders got that from the New Orleans Saints instead of the 49ers.
This story is from the May 2020 edition of Niner Report.
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This story is from the May 2020 edition of Niner Report.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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