San Francisco 49ers two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave’s 2024 campaign and second season in San Francisco came to an abrupt end in September. Hargrave suffered a season-ending partially torn triceps in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Rams. He finished with seven tackles, one TFL, one QB hit, and one sack in 104 defensive snaps.
Also Read: Breaking: 49ers Suffer Shocking Season Ending Injury (Report)
The San Francisco 49ers Pro Bowler is a potential cap casualty
Since Javon Hargrave is getting up there in age, turning 32 in February, with his large contract and Brock Purdy’s expected massive contract extension, he is a possible cap casualty for the 2025 offseason. Hargrave has two years left of his 4-year, $84 million ($21M APY) contract, which he signed during the 2023 offseason. He was slated to have a $19.9 million base salary and a $28.105 million cap hit for 2025. Finally, he has a $21.65 million base salary and a $29.855 million cap hit for 2026, per Over The Cap.
The San Francisco 49ers have restructured his contract
According to salary cap expert Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap, the 49ers restructured Javon Hargrave’s contract by lowering his base salary from $19.9 million to the $2.1 million base salary injury guarantee and his cap hit from $28.105 million to $10.305 million for 2025. As Fitzgerald points out, the 49ers restructured Hargrave’s contract to provide immediate cap relief and potentially designating him as a post-June 1 cut destination.
“Per a league source, the 49ers recently restructured the contract of Javon Hargrave for 2025 and 2026 in what looks to be a set up to allow for a post June 1 release next year,” Fitzgerald said.
“The 49ers reduced Hargraves’ base salary from $19.9 million to $2.1 million, dropping Hargraves salary cap number from $28.105 million to $10.305 million in the process. The original cost to cut Hargraves would have been either $24.86 million on the cap or $28.105 million during free agency if using the June 1. This will allow the team to designate Hargraves as a post June 1 release, count for just $10.3 million on the cap during free agency and then have it drop to and have his cap number count for $8.6 million in 2025 if Hargraves is still hurt and defer $17.485 million to 2026.”
How does the post-June 1 release affect the San Francisco 49ers cap for 2025 and 2026?
If the 49ers do, in fact, designate Javon Hargrave as a post-June 1 release, his $24.86 million dead cap hit will be spread into the 2026 offseason. They would incur a dead cap hit of $7.375 million and free up $2.93 million in cap savings for 2025. Finally, they would incur a dead cap hit of $17.485 million and free up $12.37 million for 2026.
