49ers to release Carlos Rogers if he won’t take pay cut, per report
The San Francisco 49ers will ask Carlos Rogers to take a pay cut, and if he doesn’t accept, they’ll likely be giving him the boot.
Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
The San Francisco 49ers will likely release cornerback Carlos Rogers if he does not agree to a pay cut, according to Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area. Rogers is scheduled to make $6.6 million in base salary in 2014 and the 49ers "do not intend to have Rogers take the field" at that number, according to Maiocco.
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Rogers was in a similar situation last season. The 49ers approached him about taking a pay cut after something of a down year in 2012. Rogers declined. San Francisco might have intended to release him rather than pay him the $5.5 million in base salary and absorb his $7.3 million cap hit last year, but when second-year pro Chris Culliver sustained a season-ending injury, Rogers' value went up significantly.
Instead of being released, Rogers went on to start multiple games, though his role diminished into that of a starting corner depending on the situation, thanks to the rise of Tramaine Brock, who took a starting role opposite Tarell Brown.
This year, the 49ers are in an interesting position when it comes to cornerbacks. Rogers obviously has value and would see the field, but the team is planning on rolling with Brock, and feels confident that Culliver can come back and be a starter. There’s also Brown, a player San Francisco has been trying to sign in advance of the veteran hitting the open market.
Rogers could end up being the fourth cornerback on the 49ers depth chart. In addition to that, he has limited potential to step in and cover the speedier wide receivers if he has to be called upon. At 32 years old, his best days are behind him.
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In 2003, Rogers put up 47 combined tackles, two interceptions and eight passes defended. Those numbers are down significantly from 2011, when he managed to snare a career-high six interceptions and bat down 18 passes. He’s been worth every penny San Francisco has paid him to this point, but it’s hard to imagine him being worth $6.6 million.
If it comes down to it and the 49ers have to release Rogers, they have a couple of options. They can release him immediately, which would leave $1.5 million in dead money against the 2014 cap, but would save them $5.1 million. If they wait and release him after June 1, then they would save the whole $6.6 million against the salary cap, but would carry $1.5 million in dead money into 2015.
It's unclear if Rogers will accept a pay cut, and it's apparent that San Francisco won't likely keep him around without one. The 49ers have other options on the roster, even if Brown goes elsewhere in free agency. Then there's the 2014 NFL Draft in May, and its particularly deep class of cornerbacks. They have 12 picks, and you can bet on them picking up more than one cornerback.
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Many have even suggested that San Francisco will pursue a cornerback in the first round, potentially trading up to land one of the top guys. Rogers would certainly be playing behind any rookie drafted relatively highly, as said rookie would need to get playing time and Brock isn’t likely to sit, not to mention Culliver, who should be healthy once again.
On the open market, Rogers would surely find a team for next season, though certainly not at $6.6 million. We don’t know what kind of pay cut the 49ers are looking for, but it’s still possible that they’ll remain the best financial option for Rogers.
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