The NFL on Thursday announced the dates of the entire regular-season schedule.
In addition to the 17 games the 49ers can now mark in permanent ink on their calendar, there are a few other dates worth noting for the organization.
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and wide receiver Deebo Samuel have faced tumultuous offseasons and both were the subjects of trade discussions.
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And while Samuel does not appear to be going anywhere, Garoppolo’s future remains in question with the 49ers seemingly planning on the permanent transition to Trey Lance.
Garoppolo would have likely already been traded if not for the shoulder surgery he underwent on March 8. The operation has an expected recovery and physical-therapy timeframe of four months.
Garoppolo continues to recovery and work out in Southern California. Once he is cleared, the 49ers will continue efforts to trade him.
If, as expected, they are unsuccessful in finding Garoppolo a new home, then what happens?
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers run the risk of being on the hook for Garoppolo’s entire $24.2 million non-guaranteed salary if he were to sustain a season-ending injury during summer workouts. Training camp is scheduled to open in late-July.
It would be a gamble for the 49ers to have Garoppolo play in any of the team’s exhibition games because of the risk of injury.
If Garoppolo remains on the 49ers’ roster at the initial cut to 53 players — after the final preseason game on Aug. 25 and leading up to the Sept. 11 regular-season opener at Chicago — he, in essence, would be guaranteed his entire scheduled salary for the 2022 season.
If the 49ers trade or release Garoppolo before that time, they would immediately create $25.5 million in cap savings.
The 49ers could use the cap space created with a potential Garoppolo departure to soften the blow of expected new contracts for Samuel and defensive end Nick Bosa.
San Francisco did not seriously consider any offers they received for Samuel on Day 1 of the NFL Draft, which would have been the only reasonable time to trade him.
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So, now, the next major date is June 14. That’s when the 49ers are scheduled to hold their mandatory minicamp. If Samuel does not attend, he could be fined up to $93,085.
After that, the opening of training camp in late-July becomes the target for the 49ers to work out a new contract for Samuel.
Players on rookie contracts, such as Samuel, are subject to a $40,000 daily fine for failure to attend training camp.