The San Francisco 49ers' decision to restructure Javon Hargrave's contract would appear on first glance to be a move made with an eye to moving on from the defensive tackle in the offseason.

But if the Niners are planning on parting with the man they signed to a four-year, $84 million contract in free agency in 2023, then it is news to head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Shanahan was asked in his Tuesday press conference ahead of Thursday's matchup with the Los Angeles Rams what the plan is for Hargrave, whose season was ended by a torn bicep suffered in the Week 3 game with the same opposition.

The 49ers, per Over The Cap, restructured Hargrave's contract in 2025 and 2026, dramatically lowering his base salary next year with that move seen as an indication San Francisco is planning to cut him and designate the former Philadelphia Eagles star as a post June-1 release. 

But Shanahan told reporters: "The plan is for him to be a Niner. I don't know about the contract tinkering, that would be more of a question for John or Paraag [Marathe].

"I think that's just mechanics of contract stuff, but things I don't look into until after the season."

Shanahan's answer is understandable given he is completely locked in on the task of keeping the 49ers in the playoff hunt despite the absence of several stars including Hargrave.

Yet the Niners may as early as Thursday need to come to terms with their season being over, at which point issues such as contracts will come closer to the forefront of their minds.

Hargrave's restructure gives the 49ers more flexibility to move on from him if they wish, and Shanahan will clearly have big role to play in their final decision.

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