SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, one of the NFL’s top free agents, is coming to fortify the 49ers’ perenially stout defensive line, at a steep cost.
Hargrave agreed to terms on a four-year, $84 million deal with $40 million guaranteed, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter when the NFL’s free agency window opened Monday morning.
The 49ers, through a team spokesman, are declining comment on free agency deals until Wednesday, which is when they first can become official with the start of the new league year.
The 49ers poached Hargrave from the Philadelphia Eagles, who beat the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game before falling in the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Meanwhile, the 49ers bid adieu to a pair of former captains, with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo heading to the Las Vegas Raiders and right tackle Mike McGlinchey to the Denver Broncos. Both exits were highly anticipated; Garoppolo-to-the Raiders was first reported by NFL Network, and ESPN first had McGlinchey’s deal with Denver after speculating he would land in Chicago.
As Phase 1 of the 49ers’ offseason makeover began Monday morning, they addressed their No. 1 priority in restocking their defensive line, for new coordinator Steve Wilks, who replaced DeMeco Ryans (Houston Texans coach).
Hargrave, 30, joins a defensive front that includes NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa and ninth-year veteran Arik Armstead. Bosa is slated to make $17.8 million on a fifth-year option, but he’s also expected to sign a contract extension this summer that could be the largest ever for a NFL defender; Armstead is owed $15.9 million in salary.
“Oh wow!! Bosa, javon and Erik?!! Damm,” tweeted Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons.
Hargrave figures to take over the starting spot on the interior that had been earmarked for Javon Kinlaw, a 2020 first-round draft pick whose career has been hindered by a knee injury. Hargrave (6-foot-2, 305 pounds) played the past three seasons with the Eagles after his first four with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
So, Javon Hargrave in for Javon Kinlaw? Essentially, but the 49ers aren’t financially forced to part with Kinlaw, who is slated to make $2.7 million in salary in the final year of his rookie deal, with his fifth-year option for 2024 unlikely to be exercised.
Ironically, Hargrave’s reported contract figures with the 49ers are similar to what DeForest Buckner commanded from the Indianapolis Colts three years ago, when the 49ers balked at his asking price and traded him for a first-round draft pick. Buckner reportedly scored a four-year, $84 million deal with $44.4 million guaranteed.
The 49ers’ defensive line still needs more reinforcements, especially at defensive end, where they hope 2022 top pick Drake Jackson takes a major step in Year 2.
Hargrave has played in 111 of 114 games since joining the NFL as a 2016 third-round draft pick by the Steelers, out of South Carolina State. The last game he missed was the 2020 opener — at the onset of his Eagles’ tenure — because of a pectoral strain.
Of Hargrave’s 37 1/2 career sacks, 11 came this past season, and he had 7 1/2 in 2021 en route to his lone Pro Bowl honors. In last season’s 31-7 NFC Championship win over the 49ers, Hargrave had a sack, of Josh Johnson in the second quarter, when Hargrave slipped past left guard Aaron Banks.
Hargrave was credited with 57 quarterback pressures last season, according to ProFootballFocus.com, which had the 49ers led by Armstead’s 20 and Kerry Hyder’s 14.
The 49ers had a slew of defensive linemen hit free agency: Samson Ebukam, Charles Omenihu, Jordan Willis, Kerry Hyder Jr., Hassan Ridgeway, Maurice Hurst, and T.Y. McGill. Kevin Givens, a restricted free agent, re-signed on a one-year, $2.1 million deal, according to The Athletic’s Matt Barrows.
Here are the latest on other deals, which can’t become official until the league year begins Wednesday at 1 p.m.:
Jimmy Garoppolo, quarterback (Raiders)
Storyline: He won 42 of 61 starts that included playoff trips to two NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl. His injury history prompted the 49ers to hire his successors: Trey Lance (2021 No. 3 overall pick) and Brock Purdy (2022 No. 262 and final pick). Now Garoppolo joins the AFC West where the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs await as the Raiders’ top rival. Garoppolo will be throwing to one of the NFL’s top receivers in Davante Adams, a Palo Alto High product.
49ers impact: The Garoppolo era was mixed with highs, lows, smiles and injuries, ultimately ending with a Dec. 4 foot fracture that sprung Purdy into action. The 49ers’ brass repeatedly indicated over the past month that Garoppolo would not be returning, and the feeling was mutual as he exited via the free agency path he assured himself when he reworked his contract before last season. So, the 49ers forge ahead with Lance’s recovery from an ankle fracture and Purdy’s more concerning rehabilitation from last Friday’s elbow surgery. They’re also likely to add a veteran backup and perhaps use one of their 11 draft picks on another arm.
Mike McGlinchey, right tackle (Broncos)
Storyline: Drafted five years ago out of Notre Dame, the 49ers’ 2018 top pick is heading to Denver on a five-yar, $87.5 million deal with over $50 million guaranteed, according to the NFL Network.
49ers impact: This was an expected departure, even though McGlinchey started 69 regular-season games in his 49ers career, including every game last season on his fifth-year option. They’re already paying left tackle Trent Williams the most of any NFL offensive lineman, so “it’s hard to imagine them paying top dollar for both,” McGlinchey said last week on KNBR 680-AM. Top in-house candidates to replace McGlinchey are Colton McKivitz and Jaylon Moore.
Hassan Ridgeway, defensive tackle (Texans)
Storyline: Houston coach DeMeco Ryans has opened the pipeline for 49ers players to join him, and it starts with a veteran defensive lineman who’ll help reverse what was the NFL’s most generous run defense last season. He’s signing a one-year, $4 million deal with $3 million guaranteed, per ESPN.
49ers impact: As helpful as Ridgeway was in seven starts last season for an injury-depleted interior, the 49ers went big earlier Monday in landing Hargrave, who excelled against them in the NFC Championship Game.
49ers free agents
Quarterbacks: Jimmy Garoppolo (Raiders), Josh Johnson
Kicker: Robbie Gould
Linebacker: Azeez Al-Shaair
Offensive linemen: McGlinchey (Broncos), Jake Brendel, Daniel Brunskill
Tight ends: Ross Dwelley, Tyler Kroft, Jordan Matthews
Defensive linemen: Samson Ebukam, Charles Omenihu, Jordan Willis, Kerry Hyder Jr., Hassan Ridgeway (Texans), Maurice Hurst, T.Y. McGill
Safeties: Jimmie Ward, Tarvarius Moore; Tashaun Gipson agreed to re-sign on a one-year deal Sunday.
Cornerbacks Emmanuel Moseley, Jason Verrett
*Linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and defensive tackle Kevin Givens were slated to become restricted free agents. It’s unknown if the 49ers tendered either of them, which they did last week with exclusive rights free agent Jauan Jennings.
