The San Francisco 49ers made a splash in free agency this offseason, signing former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to a four-year, $84 million extension, pairing him with incumbent starter Arik Armstead on the interior.
Hargrave was a member of an elite Eagles defensive line that featured four players who reached over ten sacks, and cashed out on a career year, coming out from the "underrated" label that has stuck with him throughout his seven-year NFL career.
Armstead, on the other hand, has been an underrated defensive tackle himself, being a key cog for the 49ers, both as a pass-rusher and a run-defender, even if the stat sheets don't necessarily show it.
Where do the two talented defensive tackles rank amongst the NFL at their position?
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler conducted his annual "NFL Top 10 Defensive Tackles" ranking, based on the word of executives, coaches, and players.
Javon Hargrave saw his name first, as the list had him at No. 5, ranking behind Los Angeles's Aaron Donald, Kansas City's Chris Jones, Tennessee's Jeffery Simmons, and New York's Quinnen Williams.
"Long underrated, Hargrave has been disruptive for years and finally has the cachet thanks to a four-year, $84 million free agency deal with San Francisco," Fowler wrote. "Hargrave was a pivotal player in the Eagles' NFC championship run in 2022."
"He has natural leverage, quickness and power," an NFL personnel director said. "That combo makes it hard for offensive guards and centers to really have a chance because he can vary his rush toward their weaknesses."
Hargrave ranked second among defensive tackles in pass rush win rate last season (17.6%), trailing Jones. He finished third in 2021.
"He's exactly what San Francisco needs up front," an NFL personnel evaluator said.
Hargrave was ranked as high as No. 4 on certain lists, while his No. 5 ranking is a significant step up from 2021, where he was seen as an honorable mention.
Speaking of honorable mentions, that's where 49ers defensive tackle Arik Armstead fell on the list, receiving some votes in the Top 10, but not enough to warrant a definite ranking.
Armstead is coming off a sack-less 2022 season in which he played just nine games due to a variety of foot injuries, limiting his production throughout the season.
But, with a bounce-back 2023 season where Armstead and Hargrave should benefit from each other's presence on the interior, the former could meet the latter on next year's Top 10 Defensive Tackles list.
