The San Francisco 49ers made one of the biggest non-quarterback splashes in free agency when they inked defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to a four-year, $84 million deal on the first day of free agency, formulating a dynamic interior duo between the former Philadelphia Eagle and Arik Armstead.
Coming into the offseason, the 49ers were fairly cap-strapped, but restructures for Charvarius Ward and Fred Warner, alongside a cheap $6.615 million cap hit in Year 1 allowed the team to sign the high-end defensive tackle, which provides them multiple top options on the interior for the first time since 2019, when their defensive line led them to a Super Bowl.
However, prior to free agency, the defensive tackle himself didn't even believe it was a possibility, which explained his shock when the two sides were in contact and eventually, a deal.
"I couldn't believe it myself," Hargrave said, via ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "I really couldn't. Sometimes when you are trying to go get the money, you have to go to a team that's in a rebuild mode. But when you can go to a team that was just in the NFC Championship, that's kind of an easy choice for me."
Hargrave acknowledged the uncertainty that comes with free agency, which built on his nerves, but with a contending team like the 49ers interested, the decision became easier.
"It really made me happy because I was real nervous about free agency on where I was gonna have to go. But I felt like this was the perfect situation."
Speaking at the NFL's annual meetings last week, owner Jed York admitted that free agency is normally an area where big spending occurs, which often doesn't lead to a good investment.
"When you're going to spend in free agency, you better make it count because you're gonna spend a lot of money," York said.
However, the 49ers were able to secure the top-of-the-line talent in Hargrave, making it count, as York alluded to.
During the Hargrave negotiations, the 49ers had an "all-in" mentality, which ultimately helped them land their top target on the market.
"You don't get much of an opportunity because the window is so defined and short," Lynch said, via the Mercury News's Cam Inman. "When we went, we went really hard. We didn't soft-shoe into it. We went right in there, and let him know our opportunity and vision."
Hargrave will wear No. 98 with the 49ers, as defensive end Nick Bosa is the current holder of his previous jersey number: No. 97.