The San Francisco 49ers are starting to look for cost cutting measures that will allow them to give Colin Kaepernick a long term extension while still being able to retain some expiring contracts. That’s a maneuver that is easier said than done, but the names on the cap casualty list are starting to fill themselves out.
One such name is wide receiver Jon Baldwin, whom the Niners acquired in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs this past season. Baldwin was swapped for wide receiver A.J. Jenkins, but had little impact for the Niners after arriving. CSNBayArea.com is speculating that he could end up being cut to save money this offseason.
"Another player who does not figure to return at his current salary is wide receiver Jon Baldwin, scheduled to make $1.4 million. Part of the reason the 49ers made the trade to send A.J. Jenkins to the Kansas City Chiefs for Baldwin was because Jenkins had two years remaining of guaranteed salaries. Baldwin had just one. They can release Baldwin and not feel the cap sting of any proration."
Baldwin never developed for the Niners, which means cutting him to save $1.4 million is almost a no-brainer for San Francisco.