Last year, the 49ers opened free agency with a shocker: They traded All-Pro defensive tackle, team captain and presumed franchise pillar DeForest Buckner to the Colts.
That recent history is worth bearing in mind as the soft launch of free agency opens Monday with a two-day “legal tampering” period before teams can sign players Wednesday.
According to the NFLPA, the 49ers entered Saturday with the league’s 14th-most salary cap space ($24.1 million). That figure increased to nearly $32 million after they restructured the contract of starting center Weston Richburg, 29, who is expected to retire after undergoing surgeries on his quadriceps, knee, shoulder and hip since the end of the 2018 season. The restructure, which created $6.9 million in cap room, was reported by NFL Network on Saturday.
The 49ers could spend their cash in such a way that makes the free agency period drama-free. They would like to retain Pro Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk and Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams, who is expected to command more than $20 million annually and become the league’s highest-paid offensive lineman. In addition, locking up cornerback Jason Verrett and slot corner K’Waun Williams are priorities. Keeping that quartet, along with signing All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner to a contract extension this offseason, could leave room for only a few low-wattage signings.
However, Trent Williams has repeatedly indicated he will see what his value is on the open market. And the Jets, who have gobs of cap space and will use the 49ers’ offensive and defensive schemes with former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh in charge, figure to be among the teams competing for Juszczyk, Verrett and K’Waun Williams.
So surprises could be in store. And it’s worth noting that head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, who are accessible and transparent by the standards of a paranoid and locked-lip league, haven’t talked to the local media since Jan. 4. Without the combine this year, an event at which many coaches and GMs speak with reporters, teams were encouraged to have virtual media availability before free agency. The 49ers were among a handful of teams that stayed silent.
Perhaps they wanted to avoid another round of their awkward public tap dance — praising quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo while declining to commit to him. Or perhaps they wanted to eliminate any chance they’d tip their hand to another shocker that’s in store.
Whatever the case, here are free agents Lynch and Shanahan might soon speak with:
FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2016, file photo, Cleveland Browns center Alex Mack stands on the sideline during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cleveland.
David Richard / AP• Falcons center Alex Mack
This one is just too easy.
The 49ers need a starting center. Shanahan places a huge value on the position, and his teams (Browns, 2014; Falcons, 2016) signed Mack in Shanahan’s final two stops as an offensive coordinator.
Oh, right, another thing: Mack is good.
At 35, the six-time Pro Bowl selection and 12-year veteran has bid farewell to his prime. However, he would be an upgrade after Ben Garland and Daniel Brunskill filled in last year when Richburg missed the season. Mack’s durability — he’s started 94 of his teams’ past 96 games — is desirable for a team with trouble keeping players on the field.
The 49ers could fill out this position in the offseason by investing a mid- to late-round draft pick who could learn behind Mack. An intriguing possibility is Stanford center Drew Dalman, whose dad Craig was an offensive lineman with the 49ers his entire seven-season career.
Mitchell Trubisky, the No. 2 pick in 2017, could come to S.F. and silence his wild array of critics. Or just come to S.F.
Bruce Kluckhohn / Associated Press• Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky
There’s been a lot of smoke surrounding the 49ers making a trade for Jets quarterback Sam Darnold, 23, the No. 3 pick in 2018 whose early career struggles are at least partly due to a subpar supporting cast.
They could save a draft pick and sign Trubisky, 27, the No. 2 pick in 2017 whose early career struggles are at least partly due to a subpar supporting cast. (Quick, name a Bears wide receiver besides Allen Robinson.)
Unlike other free-agent backup QB options such as Ryan Fitzpatrick, 39, Alex Smith, 37, Andy Dalton, 34, and Jacoby Brissett, 29, there’s a possibility (perhaps slight) that Trubisky, in Shanahan’s offense, could transform into a long-term answer if Garoppolo, the presumptive starter, is injured again or struggles.
Darnold would cost a pick and $4.77 million in salary in 2021. Trubisky, who has a far better career passer rating (87.2 to 78.6) and completion percentage (64.0 to 59.8) than Darnold, could probably be signed for a similar cost.
San Francisco 49ers' Emmanuel Sanders after Niners' 37-8 win over Green Bay Packers in NFL game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, November 24, 2019.
Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle• Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders
Before he was overthrown by Garoppolo in Super Bowl LIV, Sanders was a Shanahan favorite who enlivened the offense after he was acquired prior to the trade deadline in 2019.
The two-time Pro Bowler was released by the Saints, who were significantly over the salary cap. Sanders, 33, signed a two-year, $16 million deal last year, then had 61 catches for 726 yards and five touchdowns. The 49ers could be seeking a slot receiver, a role Sanders could fill, with Kendrick Bourne set to be an unrestricted free agent.
In November, before the 49ers visited New Orleans, Shanahan spoke about Sanders’ influence in 2019.
“He meant a ton, and I think it would have been real hard to get to where we got to if we didn’t make that move for him,” Shanahan said. “He came in, did exactly what I was hoping for and more. Really hard to lose Emmanuel this offseason. One of the toughest decisions we had to make.”
Oakland Raiders' Hunter Renfrow catches a pass in front of Detroit Lions' Justin Coleman in 2nd quarter during NFL game at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, November 3, 2019.
Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle• Slot cornerback Justin Coleman
If K’Waun Williams heads elsewhere — a real possibility given Saleh’s affinity for him — Coleman would be a logical candidate to assume his spot.
Like Williams, Coleman, 27, has emerged as one of the league’s best slot corners after he went undrafted. He’s on the open market because the Lions released him to free up cap space after giving him a four-year, $36 million deal in 2019.
Coleman’s defensive coordinator in Detroit last year was Cory Undlin, who is now the 49ers’ secondary coach.
Eric Branch covers the 49ers for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: ebranch@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Eric_Branch
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