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49ers Project 10-7 Wild Card; Tonges $8M Extension

5/21/2026

47 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Analysts Ali Bhanpuri and Tom Blair project the San Francisco 49ers to finish 2026 10-7, earn a Wild Card spot, and post a win streak in Weeks 6-9 before a stretch from Week 12.
Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa will face his former Dallas Cowboys, a rivalry that has reignited.
Tight end Jake Tonges secured a $8 million extension after posting 34 catches for 293 yards and five touchdowns in 2022.

History

Historical Context

Paul Tagliabue introduced the NFL’s first hard salary cap in the 1994 season, pegged at $33.8 million, forcing teams like the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers to reshape contracts. The cap’s legacy of limiting payrolls underpins today’s extensions—Michael Irvin’s $5 million deal and projected 2026 49ers roster moves—tightening budget flexibility across the league overall in the NFL.

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Story summary

Analysts Ali Bhanpuri and Tom Blair project the San Francisco 49ers to finish 2026 10-7, earn a Wild Card spot, and post a win streak in Weeks 6-9 before a stretch from Week 12.
Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa will face his former Dallas Cowboys, a rivalry that has reignited.
Tight end Jake Tonges secured a $8 million extension after posting 34 catches for 293 yards and five touchdowns in 2022.

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