Safety Craig Dahl has agreed to a new contract that will reduce his salary for 2014 and create $600K in cap savings for the 49ers, a source tells Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Jason Hurley of NinersCapHell.com was the first to notice that Dahl’s base salary for ’14 was down to $825K in the NFLPA database.
Dahl, 28, had previously been in line to earn a $1.35MM base salary with bonus money increasing his total cap number to about $1.883MM. However, it appears as if his base salary has been reduced by $525K, while his $250K roster bonus has been reduced to a potential $175K that can be earned via per-game roster bonuses. According to Maiocco, $365K of Dahl’s $825K base salary will be guaranteed.
Maiocco also reports that the new deal will also include $650K in unlikely incentives, which Dahl could earn if he makes the Pro Bowl or reaches certain thresholds in playing time and interceptions. Those incentives won’t count against the cap unless they’re earned, so taking into account Dahl’s prorated signing bonus and workout bonus, his new cap number is about $1.283MM.
After starting all 16 games in the Rams’ secondary in 2012, Dahl assumed a backup role in San Francisco in 2013, seeing action on special teams as well. With Donte Whitner set to hit free agency, Dahl could compete for an increased role in the Niners’ secondary in 2014.