The San Francisco 49ers have Frank Gore, Mike Iupati, Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis as players that could leave as free agents into 2015 and those names could be targets for the Washington Redskins and RG3 if the Niners don't retain them and it comes as the team has a new head coach in Jim Tomsula, who is taking over Jim Harbaugh after four years.
San Francisco comes into the offseason after missing the playoffs for the first time in three years and they will be looking to get back to the postseason in 2015. Gore and Crabtree are the most notable free agents along with Iupati, while Davis and Ahmad Brooks could be targets to get released. The 49ers could have a number of new faces in San Francisco next season if they let Gore, Crabtree and others go and that could have an impact on Colin Kaepernick in 2015. Last season Kaepernick took a step back and with Tomsula taking over for Harbaugh, the 49ers are hoping that he can stop the regression coming into this season.
According to CBS Sports, Gore is looking to get paid $4 million per season and while the 49ers have come out to say they want to re-sign Gore, he could price himself out of San Francisco. Gore has been positive after his 30th birthday and that could get him some attention on the open market. Earlier in the offseason CSN Bay Area reported that the Washington Redskins could be a target for Gore, as they need a backup running back with Alfred Morris getting run down the past two seasons.
Gore is also reportedly a target for the Colts, as NFL.com reports that the team is looking to upgrade after the suspension of Trent Richardson. Gore rushed for 1100 yards last season and has had at least that many yards in each of the past four seasons. Gore could be a strong complimentary option for teams and the Niners could let him go to give Carlos Hyde more of a chance to get carries. Crabtree is on the free agent market and he could be allowed to walk, as he is coming off of a down season. Crabtree had 68 catches for 698 yards and four TDs last season.
Davis and Brooks both could be salary cap casualties, as both are coming off of disappointing years. According to CSN Bay Area, Trent Baalke said that Davis will be returning to the team in 2015, but that is not official yet and there is a chance that he could get asked to take a pay cut. If Davis doesn't want to do that from his near $5 million salary, he could be in danger of getting released. Davis is coming off of a bad season in which he had just 26 catches for 245 yards.
Kaepernick has an interesting contract and according to Pro Football Talk, the team can reevaluate after each season and walk away without any major financial obligations and penalties. While the team likes Kaepernick, they could look at making a change at quarterback if he doesn't show improvement into this season. Kaepernick was championed by Harbaugh and with all of the changes coming to the organization, that could be one that gets made in the future.