SF 49ers: 5 players who are in line for massive paydays in 2021
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: SF 49ers Defensive Tackle D.J. Jones
2020 Contract Value: $861,967
Nose tackles typically don’t command hefty contracts on the open market. But in the case of the SF 49ers’ own, D.J. Jones, there’s a great chance he’ll come close to tripling his yearly salary signed on his rookie contract when the Niners selected him in Round 6 of the 2017 NFL Draft.
That class, which essentially touts both Jones and tight end George Kittle as the lone two successes, is heading towards free agency. Kittle, a cornerstone, received his hefty extension already.
Yet it might be a little too difficult for San Francisco to retain one of its better run-stuffing defensive linemen into next season.
Jones has been a standout, yes. And his high-ankle sprain suffered last year was felt dearly by the SF 49ers’ defensive line depth.
Despite being healthy for much of 2020, however, the emergence of second-year pro defensive tackle Kevin Givens could make Jones somewhat expendable, at least as far as a re-sign deal would go.
Jones probably won’t be commanding one of those eye-popping contracts on the open market. Compared to his previous earnings, however, there’s an awfully good chance he’s going to receive a very nice comparable raise in 2021.
Somewhere.