9:40pm: We have a few more details on Hargrave’s new four-year, $84MM contract, according to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. The $40MM amount guaranteed at signing consists of a $23MM signing bonus, a $6MM option bonus, $1.17MM of his 2023 base salary, $8.85MM of his 2024 base salary, $750,000 per game, and a $200,000 workout bonus.
Over the course of the four-year deal, Hargrave is set to hold cap hits of $6.62MM in 2023, $15.54MM in 2024, $26.55MM in 2025, $28.3MM in 2026, and $7MM of dead money in a voidable 2027. The contract also includes a voidable year in 2028, as well.
The 49ers have an out built into the deal after two years so that cutting Hargrave at that time would result in $8MM of cap savings, though it would force them to burn $18.6MM in dead money.
12:25pm: The top defensive tackle on the market is set to find a new home. Javon Hargrave has agreed to terms on a four-year, $84MM deal with the 49ers, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). The pact includes $40MM guaranteed at signing.
Hargrave enjoyed a productive three-year stint in Philadelphia, which came after a highly-regarded tenure with the Steelers. This first foray out of Pennsylvania will give him an opportunity to build on his production, and give San Francisco yet another high-end contributor on defense.
The 30-year-old was said to be seeking a deal in the range of $20MM per season, and he has landed one. The $21MM-per-year AAV of this pact puts Hargrave in a tie for third at the position, behind only Aaron Donald and the recently re-signed Daron Payne. It also marks another significant investment made on the defensive line on the part of the 49ers.
Arik Armstead has two years remaining on his current deal, with scheduled cap hits of $23.7MM and $25.6MM. That will make it difficult for San Francisco to accommodate another monster deal in the middle of their defense, but keeping the pair in place would add even further to the strength of their d-line. Hargrave posted a career-high 11 sacks in 2022 as part of the Eagles’ devastating pass rush. Philadelphia has 2022 first-rounder Jordan Davis in place to assume a larger role with Hargrave gone.
The 49ers already had the top defense in the league last season, so adding the Pro Bowler will be allow them to remain elite on that side of the ball. The structure of this deal will be noteworthy not only in terms of how it could affect Armstead’s future, but also because Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa is due for a mega-extension at some point. Regardless of how the 49ers handle his situation, they will have a vaunted defensive front for years to come.