The 49ers are terminating defensive tackle Javon Hargrave’s contract two years earlier than originally planned.

But San Francisco general manager John Lynch announced Wednesday that he wants the veteran defensive tackle back with the team in 2025.

“Would we be interested in having him (back)? Of course,” Lynch said of Hargrave. “Is this something we have agreed on and does it fit into our plans? We’ll see.”

Hargrave, who turns 32 next month, is a nine-year NFL veteran who previously played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles.

Although Hargrave signed a four-year deal with the 49ers as a free agent in 2023, he will not remain under contract with the team this offseason. Essentially, he will hit the free agent market in mid-March.

As part of their salary cap restructuring, the 49ers reworked Hargrave’s contract late in the season to pave the way for the team to release him after June 1 as a cost-saving measure.

“It gives him a chance to learn his market,” Lynch said. “And it could include us too.”

In early December, the 49ers restructured Hargrave’s contract for the 2025 and 2026 seasons to allow for a release after June 1. It is expected that Hargrave will have the freedom to negotiate with other teams until the new league year opens in mid-March.

The 49ers told Hargrave at the time that they wanted to be included in negotiations if he became a free agent. Hargrave was originally scheduled to make a base salary of $19 million next season. His next contract is likely to be significantly cheaper.

The restructured deal reduces Hargrave’s base salary to $2.1 million and increases the 49ers’ available salary cap money by more than $14 million at the start of the new league year.

“I told Javon he’s a player we really like,” Lynch said. “The same reason we signed him, nothing has changed. He is an influential player. We had, we have some challenges. That doesn’t mean we can’t compete for his services.”

Hargrave suffered a season-ending torn triceps in the 49ers’ game against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3. Lynch said Hargrave is well on his way to returning from the injury.

He joined the team as a major free agent in 2023 and agreed to a four-year, $84 million contract. He was named to the NFC Pro Bowl team in his first season with the 49ers after registering 7.5 sacks in 2023.

Hargrave appeared in 19 regular season games and three playoff games in his two seasons with the 49ers. He recorded 9.5 total sacks and 61 tackles.

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