This offseason’s OTAs (Optional Team Activity) have started out with some pretty big news for the San Francisco 49ers. First, starting offensive guard Alex Boone didn’t show up because he wants more money. Second, tight end Vernon Davis didn’t show up because he wants more money too. Third, quarterback Colin Kaepernick got a new deal with a boat load of money. Locking up Kaepernick has allowed the 49ers to now focus their attention on other contracts that need to be handled.
In my opinion, the most important one outside of head coach Jim Harbaugh’s is that of Vernon Davis. Some people might say that they need to get a deal done with wide receiver Michael Crabtree but what a lot of people don’t realize is that Crabtree is going to want a lot more money than most people are expecting. Does anyone remember how difficult it was to get a deal done his rookie year? And that was before he caught a single pass in the NFL. Also, the 49ers have the option of giving him the franchise tag after this season and delaying his contract talks another season.
Defensive end Aldon Smith is another one who will be getting a new contract in the next couple of years, whether it’s from the 49ers or some other team. The 49ers won’t get a deal done with him yet because they exercised the fifth year option on his contract and have him for two more seasons. Not only that but they want to wait on Smith due to his legal troubles. Their worst fear is signing Smith to a major deal and then he gets into more legal trouble, prompting Roger Goodell to suspend Smith him for a significant amount of time.
Both of their offensive guards are going to want more money soon as well. Mike Iupati is on the last year of his contract this season but can be franchised after this season. However there are two problems with that. The first problem is if they use the franchise tag on Crabtree instead. The second problem is the franchise tag would put him at a higher salary than their best offensive lineman, Joe Staley, which could cause some dissension in the ranks. Boone, their other guard, probably won’t get an extension at this time either for the same reason. Also, he is coming off of a down season and the 49ers have an abundance of interior lineman they could plug in if Boone decides not to play.
For all the reasons the other players shouldn’t get extensions right now, there are just as convincing reasons why Davis should. He creates a mismatch for every defense he faces and gives the 49ers an advantage that no other receiving threat gives them. He’s their best athlete and their greatest deep threat. He has publicly said he bleeds red and gold and wants to retire a 49er and has also said he’ll be at training camp when it starts and won’t be a hold out. Even if he doesn’t hold out, if you’re the 49ers you still don’t want one of your best players and a leader on the team to be disgruntled.
So with Davis not being present for OTAs, what exactly does it mean? Nothing really besides Davis losing $200,000 because of a bonus in his contract. Davis will be there at training camp whether he has a new contract or not. He’ll play his butt off whether he has a new contract or not. What I see happening though Davis gets a new contract and structures it so he gets more bonus money but lowers the 49ers’ salary cap number. The 49ers like to take care of their players and they like it even more when those players take care of them back.