For De'Vondre Campbell, a suspension would cost much more than a release

The 49ers are clearly done with linebacker De'Vondre Campbell. The question is how they go about ending it.

The easy move is to cut him. A strong message would be sent by suspending him, and by trying to recover a chunk of his signing bonus.

Campbell signed a one-year, $5 million deal. It included a $3.35 million signing bonus and a $1.21 million salary. That translates to $67,222 per game.

But there's a bigger financial play, which the 49ers would likely waive if they cut him. Under the CBA, willful refusal to play constitutes a forfeitable breach. That allows the 49ers to recover 25 percent of his $3.35 million signing bonus.

It works out to $837,500, the direct price of refusing to play. Throw in the fine for a one-game suspension (if the 49ers do that), and Campbell loses more than $1.4 million of his $5 million compensation for 2024.

And, yes, the Ravens could do the same thing to receiver Diontae Johnson, even though they didn't pay any of his signing bonus ($17.5 million), his 2024 roster bonus ($3 million), or his pre-trade restructuring bonus of more than $3.2 million. Johnson's refusal to play could end up being VERY expensive, possibly more than $3 million in all.

So that's why the 49ers haven't cut Campbell. That might be what he wants, like LeGarrette Blount 10 years ago. Campbell surely doesn't want to have to write a check to the 49ers for money that the 49ers have already paid him.