Javon Hargrave sets San Francisco 49ers up to attack second wave of free agency with key decision
The San Francisco 49ers might not have been able to agree to a restructure with one defensive tackle, but they were successful in doing so with Javon Hargrave. San Francisco on Wednesday released Arik Armstead after he refused a restructure that would have seen him take a significant pay cut. Armstead subsequently agreed to a […]
The San Francisco 49ers might not have been able to agree to a restructure with one defensive tackle, but they were successful in doing so with Javon Hargrave.
San Francisco on Wednesday released Arik Armstead after he refused a restructure that would have seen him take a significant pay cut. Armstead subsequently agreed to a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday.
Hargrave was not asked to take a pay cut. Instead, the 49ers' marquee signing from last year's free agency period agreed to a restructure that, per Over The Cap, converted $7.675 million of his 2024 salary into a signing bonus, saving the 49ers $6.14 million against the cap.
That money will be paid to Hargrave up front but, crucially for the Niners, pro-rate across the life of his contract, which runs through the 2027 season. His cap charge will increase by $1.35 million in each of the subsequent years of his deal as a result of the restructure.
The 49ers have revamped the defensive line around Hargrave and star defensive end Nick Bosa during the first wave of free agency. They signed edge rushers Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos while also acquiring defensive tackles Jordan Elliott and Maliek Collins, the latter of whom will be the favorite to take Armstead's place starting next to Hargrave.
But the 49ers still have needs to address in the second wave. They could use help at linebacker after Dre Greenlaw's Achilles injury in Super Bowl 58. Eric Kendricks backed out of a deal with the Niners to sign for the Dallas Cowboys. San Francisco is said to also be looking at a deep crop of free agent safeties, while guard and kick returner are also holes in need of filling.
Though the 49ers still have 10 picks in the draft, Hargrave's restructure should allow them to add further to the roster on the open market.
Hargrave signed a four-year, $84 million deal with the Niners last year. He was voted as a Pro Bowler in his first season, which ended with the 49ers losing Super Bowl 58 to the Kansas City Chiefs, a game in which Hargrave registered a sack, a quarterback hit, a tackle for loss, six total tackles and a fumble recovery.
During the regular season, Hargrave had seven sacks and eight tackles for loss along with 14 quarterback hits. He finished fourth in Pro Football Focus pass rush grade among interior defensive linemen.
