{"id":203182,"date":"2026-03-04T02:53:34","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T02:53:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/203182\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T02:53:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T02:53:34","slug":"can-you-assemble-a-super-bowl-contender-for-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/203182\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you assemble a Super Bowl contender for 2026?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Internet GMs, assemble: If you think you can do a better job than Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch at running the 49ers, here\u2019s your chance.<\/p>\n

Our build-your-roster tool is back for a 2026 run. You can even have the satisfaction of cutting Brandon Aiyuk (see cell C33 in the attached sheet). With NFL free agency beginning next week, it\u2019s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work. <\/p>\n

The task is simple, but it won\u2019t be easy. Unlike Lynch, you don\u2019t have any NFL Combine press conference duties. But you do have a roster to build. Potential free-agent signees, selectable in drop-down menus at each open spot, have estimated cap hits. It\u2019s your job to assemble a team whose sum of 2025 cap hits finishes not just under the absolute limit but with room to spare for 2026.<\/p>\n

Leaving carryover room is mandatory if we\u2019re going to realistically simulate how the 49ers are operating with their A-list core of players. So you\u2019ll be asked to leave at least $20 million of carryover salary-cap room.<\/p>\n

Lombardi\u2019s Build-Your-Own 49ers Roster\"David<\/p>\n

Hit the \u201cCreate a copy\u201d button to start building your own 49ers roster.<\/p>\n

In recent years, the 49ers have structured every big contract in a way that uses bonus prorations (available thanks to a handy NFL accounting rule) to push the majority of salary-cap impact into future years, when the cap is expected to be larger. This roster builder assumes the 49ers will continue employing this amortization technique, which is the NFL version of taking out a zero-interest loan.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why you can use the roster builder to extend left tackle Trent Williams or restructure the contract of edge rusher Nick Bosa, thereby lowering his 2026 cap hit. But in doing so, you must simultaneously realize that all money the 49ers pay or reallocate with Williams or Bosa will have to eventually hit the salary cap \u2014 and backloading will cause it to hit in heavier doses over future years. Therefore, it\u2019s vital to constantly budget for the future.<\/p>\n

Key rule: Unused salary-cap space carries over from season to season. <\/p>\n

If you cross under the $20 million threshold, cell C13 will turn red \u2014 and your 2026 49ers roster won\u2019t qualify you for The Standard\u2019s NFL Internet GM of the Year award.<\/p>\n

Today<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

3 days ago<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

6 days ago<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/a><\/p>\n

You can win some recognition by building a good, cap-compliant roster with ample carryover space. Make sure to take a screenshot of your submission and send it via X to @LombardiHimself.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s builder features more optionality than ever before. On top of the ability to fill openings at every position with a wide range of free-agent signings or the 49ers\u2019 pool of seven draft picks, there are more than 15 specialized player transaction options. To cut or trade a player, adjust his cap hit using the corresponding guide and check the box at right to reduce the roster count.<\/p>\n

The builder begins with 16 open spots on the 53-man roster and about $49 million of 2025 salary-cap space. <\/p>\n

This exercise should foster appreciation for the importance of the NFL Draft. The 49ers\u2019 seven picks are slated to total just $10.6 million of 2026 cap charges. Signing players in free agency is much more expensive \u2014\u00a0often exponentially so. The mock draft option at the bottom left gives you the chance to fill in names of specific draftees for your team.<\/p>\n

All right, enough talk. It\u2019s time to get to work. Build those cost-efficient rosters and send those screenshots to @LombardiHimself when you\u2019re done. We\u2019ll pick the best ones in a few days.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Internet GMs, assemble: If you think you can do a better job than Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":203183,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[1736,299,101,296,103,102,104,106,105,127],"class_list":{"0":"post-203182","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-francisco","8":"tag-john-lynch","9":"tag-kyle-shanahan","10":"tag-san-francisco","11":"tag-san-francisco-49ers","12":"tag-san-francisco-headlines","13":"tag-san-francisco-news","14":"tag-sf","15":"tag-sf-headlines","16":"tag-sf-news","17":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=203182"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203182\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/203183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=203182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=203182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=203182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}