The San Francisco 49ers are already passing on their squad. The team will release defensive tackle Javon Hargrave with an appointment after June 1, according to general manager John Lynch. Lynch said there is interest in bringing Hargrave back, but he will be a free agent.

Hargrave, who turns 32 next month, played in just three games last season before suffering a torn triceps. He had a great game in Week 3, but the 49ers paid him to be available for the second half and a possible playoff run.

Hargrave was two years removed from his four-year, $84 million contract. In 2023, he finished outside the top ten in defensive tackles in sacks and the top 20 in quarterback hits. Hargrave’s winning percentage was 14. Last offseason, Hargrave wanted to improve his conditioning. He played fewer snaps with the Niners in 2023 than he did in his previous two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Hargrave was dominant for the Eagles in 2022, but the 49ers went with a defensive tackle who was on the wrong side of the 30 and was undersized. Still, it’s a stretch to act like he was a liability or a flop during his tenure with the 49ers.

The decision to release Hargrave depends on the matter, and the Niners had already indicated this about a month ago when they restructured Hargrave’s contract.

The move to release Hargrave after June 1 will save the 49ers $7.37 million in each of the following three seasons. In 2026, the 49ers will end up eating up nearly $3 million in dead cap due to the additional ghost years in Hargraves’ contract. But they will save about $4.5 million in 2025 and a whopping $7.3 million in 2027.

It won’t be easy, but it won’t be easy to find a defensive tackle who can kill all downs and be a premier pass rusher without being a negative against the run while also being available for every game. Don’t be surprised if the 49ers look at defensive tackle early in the upcoming NFL Draft.

The current defensive tackles consist of Maliek Collins, Jordan Elliott, Kevin Givens, Evan Anderson, Kalia Davis and Khalil Davis. Khalil Davis and Givens are unrestricted free agents. Anderson is an ERFA. Elliott is under contract for another year, but the 49ers could release him and not owe any dead money.