49ers Behind the Spending Curve at Right Tackle
Kyle Shanahan’s roster blueprint for the Niners saves on the salary cap at right tackle. The rest of the league is headed in the opposite direction.
Jason Fitzgerald of the NFL salary cap site overthecap.com noted recently that right tackle has seen the largest jump in team spending from 2013 to 2023. The average salary at starting right tackle more than doubled over the past ten years, growing by 209.6%, with quarterback next at 150.2%.
For the Niners, 2013 starting right tackle Anthony Davis made $4.25 million. 2023 starter Colton McKivitz is paid $1.55 million. Will the Niners ultimately pay the price for that on the field? NFL analyst Warren Sharp wrote that McKivitz during his past two seasons including the playoffs gave up a pressure rate of 7.5%, which Sharp ranks 62nd out of 67 eligible tackles based on snaps.
The average salary for a starting right tackle for the teams in last year’s NFC playoffs not including McKivitz is $7.82 million. The leaguewide average excluding McKivitz is $6.87 million, over four times more than what McKivitz is paid.
This season will answer if Shanahan’s roster blueprint outfoxes the entire league or if he’s behind the times. To this point, the blueprint has had success in getting to the NFL Final Four but has gone ringless.
Since 2019, weak pass protection has played a pivotal role in the Niners playoff struggles and exits. Last year: Philadelphia had a 62% pressure rate and injured both Niner quarterbacks. Dallas was at nearly 50% as the Niners put up 19 points. In the 2019 Super Bowl, when Jimmy Garoppolo was pressured by the Chiefs he was 1-9 and threw two interceptions.
At a time when the league is embracing the passing game and investing in quarterback and right tackle, Shanahan flips the script, looking to save at QB and RT to spend everywhere else. It hasn't worked.
One can argue it’s the combination of going cheap at both positions that’s the problem. It may be that you can’t do both and win a championship, or that you can go cheap in salary but not talent. The Niners found that talent in the draft with Brock Purdy, but have neglected tackle in the draft for years.
If the 49ers come up short once again this year, Shanahan will have an opportunity to pivot. He can pursue Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency, and select a right tackle in the first round of the 2024 draft.
If the Niners then succeed and win a title in the 2024 season, Shanahan's past failures will be discarded as he leads the team to their 6th championship.
Interesting year ahead, a fork in the road is coming.
