The San Francisco 49ers signed veteran receiver Pierre Garcon to a five-year, $47.5 million contract back in March of 2017. It was the first big move of the Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch era in Santa Clara.
After just two seasons and very little production, that very same front office tandem has decided to release Garcon. Multiple media reports indicate that the team will move on from the veteran.
Garcon, 32, started his 49ers career out strong. He caught 40 passes for 500 yards in his first eight games with the team back in 2017. Unfortunately, injuries have plagued the former 1,000-yard receiver since.
Garcon has suited up in just eight of the 49ers’ past 24 games — recording 24 catches for 286 yards in the process. He missed the final eight games of the 2017 season with a neck injury and went on to miss half of the 2018 campaign due to a knee injury.
San Francisco incurs a whopping $7.2 million dead money hit for 2019 and saves just $1 million against the cap by releasing Garcon.
One can easily conclude that his signing was a massive bust for Lynch and Shanahan.
Though, this has been in the making for some time. Garcon’s injury-plagued ways coupled with the emergence of both Marquise Goodwin and youngster Dante Pettis made it a long shot that he would return in 2019.
By virtue of moving on from Garcon, Garry Gilliam and Earl Mitchell, the 49ers are now about $68 million under the cap. They can add another $9-plus million to that number by potentially releasing former first-round pick Arik Armstead. Even if Armstead were to return, it would be at a much lower number.
The likes of tight end Garrett Celek, guard Josh Garnett, linebackers Dekoda Watson, Malcolm Smith and Brock Coyle as well as cornerback K'Waun Williams could also be on the chopping block here soon. If they were all released, it would save San Francisco another $8-plus million against the cap.
The moves already reported were not necessarily hard for the 49ers’ brass to make. We’re expecting Lynch and Co. to be extremely active in free agency. Given the team could ultimately have $85 million in cap room, that makes perfect sense.
As for the release of Garcon, San Francisco’s depth at receiver certainly took a hit. As of right now, Pettis, Goodwin, Trent Taylor, Kendrick Bourne and Richie James are returning receivers from the 49ers’ 53-man roster from last season.
There’s been a ton of speculation that disgruntled Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown could be Santa Clara bound. He’s made it clear through social media he wants to be a member of the 49ers and officially requested a trade earlier this week. Here’s how a trade might work.
While not firmly on the trade block, recent whispers suggest that the New York Giants could move Odell Beckham Jr. He’d immediately be atop the 49ers’ wish list.
It’s also important to note that the Denver Broncos had in the past flirted with the idea of trading Emmanuel Sanders. San Francisco showed interest in him back in 2017 before signing both Garcon and Goodwin.
There are also free-agent options out there to take Garcon’s spot on the roster. Randall Cobb (Packers) and Golden Tate (Eagles) are the two high-profile receivers set to hit free agency. Though, the big-bodied Tyrell Williams of the Los Angeles Chargers could also make sense.
With a plethora of cap room and the need for a true No. 1 receiver, we’re expecting San Francisco to get creative once March comes calling (or before). Releasing Garcon wasn’t a surprise, but it could expedite matters in this regard.
