The draft was last weekend, and the 49ers’ rookie minicamp is next weekend.
There’s nothing going on in Santa Clara this weekend, so it’s a great time to take a pause and answer questions that are on your mind. Such as. . .
What are the 49ers long-term plans with Aldon Smith? (Leo Castillo)
The 49ers picked up the fifth-year option for Smith a year ago. Then, they renegotiated his one-year, $9.754 million salary to replace what would’ve become guaranteed money with a low base salary, roster bonuses and incentives.
The reasoning was clear: If Smith does not live up to his end of the bargain off the field, he won’t get his money.
Smith’s agent said the reason his client agreed to the uniquely restructured deal was because he wanted to prove himself and earn a long-term contract. But the 49ers will most likely have to sign Smith to a new contract before he reaches the open market to remain with the team that drafted him in 2011.
The 49ers generally do not re-sign their own high-priced free agents after they are able to negotiate with other teams. They do not get into the bidding game. If Smith remains on the field and is productive this season, he will be one of the big-ticket items as a free agent next year.
Of course, the 49ers could use the franchise tag to retain Smith on a one-year deal, but such a contract (the salary for a linebacker is $13.195 million this year) counts as a lump sum and would create some problems to squeeze under the cap.
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Do you see Trent Baalke dealing Alex Boone or signing him to a contract this offseason? (Faisal Refai)
Neither. I think Boone plays out the final year of his contract and leaves as a free agent in the spring.
Boone is not taking part in the 49ers’ voluntary offseason program. He is not holding out, a source close to him told CSNBayArea.com. He plans to attend the mandatory minicamp in June. And Boone plans to report on time to training camp in late-July.
The 49ers have historically not negotiated pay raises with anybody who is not in the building. So the fact that Boone is not taking part in the offseason program leads me to believe they will not try to work out a long-term deal. Plus, I don’t think the 49ers and Boone would see eye-to-eye on his value to the team on a long-term contract.
Which undrafted free agents do you believe have the best chance to make or compete for a roster spot? (Bradley Lodge)
All you have to do is look at the amount of guaranteed money and that provides a strong indication of what the team is thinking. The 49ers awarded Utah wide receiver Dres Anderson the sum of $50,000 guaranteed to sign with them.
Anderson is a player who rated as a second- or third-round draft pick according to draft analysts Rob Rang and Tony Pauline. But due to a meniscus tear in his left knee, Anderson went undrafted.
Another player who will have a legitimate opportunity to stick with the 49ers is Alabama wide receiver DeAndrew White, whom the 49ers awarded $32,000 in guaranteed money. Draft pick DeAndre Smelter is likely to open the season on the non-football injury list, but there's a strong chance another rookie could earn a spot on the 53-man roster to open the season.
