49ers to Release Former Steelers Defense Tackle
The San Francisco 49ers expect to release former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Javon Hagrave this offseason, general manager John Lynch announced on Wednesday.
Lynch said the move is being made for salary cap purposes, and that San Francisco would like to have him back, but that no such arrangement has been made as of this time.
“Would we be interested in having him? Of course,” Lynch said. “Is that something we’ve come to an agreement on and is it something that fits in our plans? We’ll see.”
Hargrave, 31, was the Steelers’ third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He played his first four seasons in Pittsburgh before signing first with the Philadelphia Eagles and then with the 49ers in 2023.
His four-year, $84 million contract with the 49ers had been scheduled to run through the 2026 season. The team and Hargrave agreed to restructure his contract before his planned release, meaning releasing him will clear $2.85 million from the rolls for the cap-strapped 49ers in 2025, while introducing a $7.375 million dead cap.
The veteran defensive tackle missed the entire rest of the 2024 season after suffering a torn triceps muscle in Week 3. In three games, he had seven tackles, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit and one sack.
Hargrave had been coming off a run of highly productive seasons. From 2021-23, he averaged 8.5 sacks, 56 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hits per season, while being named to two Pro Bowls and playing in two consecutive Super Bowls, with the Eagles in 2022 and the 49ers in 2023.
After his release, Hargrave will have a chance to test the free agent market.
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