General manager Trent Baalke offered no insights Wednesday on the futures of impending free agents Michael Crabtree and Mike Iupati, but did clarify Vernon Davis' standing with the San Francisco 49ers.
Asked if he envisions the two-time Pro Bowl tight end on the roster in 2015, Baalke answered, "Absolutely."
Coming off the worst statistical season of his nine-year career, Davis is scheduled to earn $4.95 million in the final year of his contract.
"It was an off year," Baalke said, via CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco. "He realizes (that). The great thing about Vernon, he understands. He's been in this business long enough and he's worked hard enough, he understands where his level of play is and he still believes that he can have some great years ahead of him -- as do we. And we look forward to having him a part of those."
A midseason back injury seemed to be the root cause of Davis' troubles, though the season-long dysfunction in San Francisco likely contributed as well. Two of the 49ers' head-coaching candidates expressed "bewilderment" in January that the 49ers couldn't get more production out of Davis, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
While Baalke was unequivocal about Davis' return, he also hinted that linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman will be back at salaries of $8.315 million and $5.45 million, respectively.
"I think if you look into those numbers," Baalke explained, "they're not as daunting as you might think."
In an offseason of turbulence, it appears that Davis and the All Pro linebacker duo will offer the 49ers a semblance of ballast.
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