Even after letting enough players walk in free agency to see the largest salary exodus in the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers will need the cap to increase for their future plans to work.
The 49ers have backloaded contracts for everyone from Deebo Samuel and Fred Warner to Javon Hargrave and Arik Armstead. Some day these backend-heavy contracts will catch up to San Francisco—but the team is counting on the salary cap rising before they do.
"The 49ers are confident the salary cap will continue its significant rise in the coming years," The Athletic's David Lombardi wrote.