Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Javon Hargrave is in for a big pay day, as he has agreed to a massive free agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Hargrave and the 49ers have reached an agreement on a four-year, $84 million contract that has $40 million guaranteed at signing.
The $21 million average annual value on the contract will make Hargrave the third-highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL, behind Aaron Donald ($31.7 million per year) and Daron Payne, who reached an agreement with the Washington Commanders on a $22.5 million per year deal yesterday.
The 30-year-old defensive tackle signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Eagles when he first departed Pittsburgh in 2020. His contract with the Eagles will automatically voided earlier this offseason.
The 6-foot-2, 305-pound Hargrave was the Steelers’ third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He played his first four seasons in Pittsburgh, all as a starter, and amassed 168 tackles, 22 tackles for a loss, 14.5 sacks and forced two fumbles. With the Eagles in 2022, he set a career high with 11 sacks and 60 tackles and 10 tackles for loss while leading the Philadelphia defense all the way to Super Bowl LVII.
The Steelers have a significant need at defensive tackle, with Larry Ogunjobi, Chris Wormley and Tyson Alualu all free agents, but likely do not have the necessary salary cap space to afford a contract like the one Hargrave agreed to with the 49ers.
The contract cannot become official until the start of the new league year on Wednesday at 4 p.m.