49ers create valuable salary-cap space by releasing CB Oliver

The 49ers began their financial maneuverings Friday, just hours after the NFL announced a salary cap increase of more than $30 million for the 2024 season. San Francisco released veteran cornerback Isaiah Oliver, which creates an immediate $2.4 million in cap savings. Oliver signed a two-year, $6.75 million 49ers contract as an unrestricted free agent last offseason to replace Jimmie Ward as San Francisco's top nickel back. However, Oliver struggled in that role and ultimately was used exclusively on special teams. Starting cornerback Deommodore Lenoir took over at nickel back for Oliver in the middle of the season with Ambry Thomas entering games in nickel situations to take over for Lenoir on the outside. After Thomas struggled mightily late in the season, the 49ers ended up going with veteran Logan Ryan, a midseason pickup, to play nickel back in the team's Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. One of the 49ers' top offseason priorities figures to be finding a player to strengthen the team's ability to cover the opposition's slot receiver. Oliver, a six-year veteran, played his first five NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. He appeared in all 17 regular-season...