49ers news: Deebo Samuel’s recent restructure created $16.4 million in cap space

Early Tuesday morning, ESPN’s Field Yates reported that the San Francisco 49ers created $5.43 million in cap space by restructuring defensive tackle Maliek Collins’ contract. That’s not the only player the Niners restructured on Tuesday.

Per Yates, the 49ers created a whopping $16.4 million in cap space by restructuring wide receiver Deebo Samuel’s contract on Tuesday afternoon. If Samuel’s restructure is similar to Samuel’s, the Niners converted Deebo’s base salary into a signing bonus to create cap space in 2024. Samuel’s base salary is $20.97 million in 2024, so that’s the most logical reasoning. This is the last season in Deebo’s contract where he’s owed guaranteed money.

Heading into today, the Niners had $49.5 million in cap space, the second-most in the NFL. Trent Williams’ extension and these restructures are unlikely to be included in this number. But if we assume Williams’ extension created the cap space that Over the Cap projects—which is around $15 million— then the 49ers are looking at even more money to roll over into the 2025 season.

That’s good news, but they’ll need it as Brock Purdy is due for an extension, and the Niners are projected close to being $48 million in the red in team cap space.