Grading 49ers retention of D.J. Jones for one year
While it might be an under-the-radar deal around the rest of the league, 49ers fans know the kind of impact nose tackle D.J. Jones provided to the defense.
After all, the last two years have seen Jones accumulate 43 total tackles with five sacks, showing he’s more than just a run-stopping defensive lineman and can also offer something in the pass rush, too.
Interior pass-rushers are always valuable.
According to Jason Hurley of Niners Nation, Jones’ one-year re-sign deal worth $2.4 million but only $990,000 ultimately counts against the salary cap:
Nice DJ Jones back 1yr deal, I can see it being that Fourth Year Qualifying Contract, where he gets a GTD $2.24M base salary(Only $990K counts against the cap), and a $137,500 signing bonus, Kinlaw/Givens at DT, Jones/Daniels at NT is a good rotation IMO.
— Jason Hurley/SF=$2,812,362 MIN=$997,873 (@49erscap) March 17, 2021
It’s a smart, solid move.
If there are concerns here, the only pushing this out of the A-grade range, it’s the fact Jones has dealt with ankle injuries the last two years, which have hindered his availability to an extent. Additionally, the Niners had backup defensive tackle Kevin Givens in the fold, too, and he showed the ability to start last season in Jones’ absence. Givens would have been a cheaper, younger option.
Still, those are only minor complaints. Getting Jones back on a cheap one-year deal is a smart investment, both to ensure a quality player remains in place while ensuring San Francisco’s defensive line has the depth it needs to continue.