The San Francisco 49ers could once again look to revamp their defensive line. They attempted to do so last year with some underwhelming results. As a unit, the 49ers' defense earned a 68.1 pass rush grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking 18th in the NFL. Their run defense grade of 54.6 ranked 28th overall.
The 49ers may focus on getting younger this offseason, especially as quarterback Brock Purdy's future salary will take up a larger chunk of the cap in the coming years. That could make big-money signings like Leonard Floyd last year less feasible.
"They're kind of out of that window where they have the best bargain in NFL history with the cheapest quarterback you could ever imagine being your starter, where you just spend whatever money you want around him and everything is fine," NFL insider Ian Rapoport said over the weekend.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell released his list of the best available defensive free agents, and in the process, named several 49ers defensive linemen as potential cap casualties. Among them is defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, whom general manager John Lynch has confirmed the team will release with a post-June 1 designation, allowing the 49ers to save some money.
Other potential cap casualties include Floyd, defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos, and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott. All three are under contract for the upcoming season. According to OverTheCap.com, releasing Floyd would save nearly $8 million in cap space for 2025, while cutting Gross-Matos would free up about $7.8 million. Parting ways with Elliott would clear almost $3 million.
This is all based on a post-June 1 release, as releasing players before that date would be less financially beneficial. Teams can only designate two players as post-June 1 releases before the actual date, spreading the cap hit over two seasons rather than absorbing it all in the current year. However, if the 49ers prioritize the long-term future over immediate cap relief, this may not be a major concern for the front office.
That said, it doesn't necessarily mean the 49ers will release all three players. Barnwell considers these merely potential candidates.
If any of these players are released, the 49ers must find alternatives. The team could turn to the draft to strengthen the defensive front, ultimately making decisions on these players later.