Raheem Mostert became the leader of the 49ers running last season, and he reportedly wants to be paid that way.
Mostert “wants more meaningful recognition for his high output” beyond the hasty incentives in the contract he signed with the 49ers last March, according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson.
I was told that the RB 49ers Raheem Mostert applied for a raise earlier this offseason. While the three-year deal he got last season includes hasty incentives in each year of the team’s contract, I understand that Mostert still wants more meaningful recognition for his high output.
– IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) July 2, 2020
Although he didn’t start a single game in 2019, Mostert became the 49ers’ best career choice when they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LIV in February. Mostert tied Tevin Coleman to lead the team with 137 carries during the regular season, but had more tiebreak attempts (53) than any other 49er.
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Mostert rushed to reach the highest 772 yards of his career in the regular season, adding 336 more to the ground in the postseason. From week 13 onward, Mostert carried the ball at least 10 times in each game and averaged 6.1 yards per carry. Only Tennessee Titans star Derrick Henry ran more yards during that time.
The 49ers and Mostert would have discussed an extension of the contract, and the broker can become an unrestricted free agent in 2022. Mostert’s base salary will increase from $ 1.4 million to $ 2.575 million in 2020 and $ 2.825 million in 2021, according to Over the Cap. With a prorated bonus of $ 333,333 and a lineup bonus per game of up to $ 250,000, Mostert is capped at just under $ 3.16 million next season.
That represents 1.5 percent of the salary cap, and Mostert has the 24th highest cap among runners. Both Coleman (13th) and former 49ers running back Matt Breida (22nd) have higher cap numbers than Mostert.
Only seven teams spend more money against the salary limit on runners than the 49ers, but that could change as soon as next season. Tight end George Kittle is eligible to sign an extension, and will likely become the highest-paid player at his position. Newly acquired left tackle Trent Williams can become an unrestricted free agent in 2021, as can cornerback Richard Sherman and safety Jacquiski Tartt.
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Coleman and running back Jerick McKinnon are also set to hit the market at the time, so the 49ers would likely have more room for a Mostert raise. Retaining most of his free agents, let alone all of them, will be a challenge next offseason, and reworking Mostert’s contract could make it more difficult.
After making it to the Super Bowl last season, the 49ers face the reality that every great team in a salary cap league must face. The bill for success always expires, and the lawsuits reported by Mostert are another indication of what’s ahead for San Francisco in the coming seasons.
