While tight end Vernon Davis and right guard Alex Boone are skipping mandatory minicamp this week, it's another key player whose San Francisco 49ers future is up in the air.
CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco has reported the 49ers held "behind-closed-doors conversations" last season about the futures of Boone and left guard Mike Iupati.
Just 27 years old and coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons, Iupati is a candidate to become the NFL's highest-paid guard.
With a fairly rigid salary hierarchy in place, the 49ers seem more likely to keep Boone at a lower cost and allow Iupati to test the market.
In addition to the contract just signed by Colin Kaepernick and the question marks surrounding Boone and Davis, the organization must also address the futures of wide receiver Michael Crabtree and pass rusher Aldon Smith -- both of whom are entering the final year of their rookie deals.
The 49ers have already prepared for life without Iupati, selecting highly regarded interior linemen Brandon Thomas and Marcus Martin in last month's draft.
If your team needs a road-grading guard, one of the league's finest will likely be available next March.
In the latest edition of the "Around The League Podcast," the heroes discuss which teams "realistically" have no shot at winning the Super Bowl this season.
