49ers could reunite with familiar face to fix underwhelming defensive line

D.J. Jones is going to be available this offseason and probably on the cheap.

Denver Broncos defensive tackle D.J. Jones (97)
Denver Broncos defensive tackle D.J. Jones (97) | Cooper Neill/GettyImages

ESPN listed D.J. Jones as a bargain free agent, and the 49ers should be paying attention to his market if they want to fix their defensive line.

Perhaps the No. 1 priority for the San Francisco 49ers this offseason is to fix their defensive line, namely the interior where they struggled defending against the run and generating much of a pass rush.

Last season, the Niners' run defense surrendered an average of 4.4 yards per carry, good for 17th in the league, and it was evident the combinations of defensive tackles Maliek Collins, Jordan Elliott and Javon Hargrave (whose season was abrubtly ended early because of a triceps injury) were less than adequate.

Hargrave will be a cap casualty this offseason, while the futures of Collins and Elliott are unclear at best.

Sure, general manager might opt to pursue options via the NFL Draft this April. However, if San Francisco is looking for upgrades while operating on a financial budget, going after a one-time 49ers defender in free agency could be the preferred route.

Turns out, one player should be available.

D.J. Jones is the perfect 'bargain' free agent for 49ers to target

Bleacher Report compiled a list of affordable free agents who should attract cap-minded teams this offseason.

One Niners alumnus, now-Denver Broncos defensive tackle D.J. Jones, made that list.

Of the addition to the list, B/R wrote:

"Jones took a slight step back during his recent tenure with the Denver Broncos but still ranked No. 2 in run stop win rate amongst all defensive tackles in 2024 according to ESPN. While he only recorded one sack on the season—marking the first time since 2018 that he failed to notch at least two—he still occasionally flashed the ability to get into the backfield and hinder opposing quarterbacks.

It's not easy to find hefty defensive tackles who can stuff the run for a budget price. Teams will have to overlook some of Jones' negative qualities—missing tackles has long been a concern with Jones and that issue continued to plague him last season—but the good still clearly outweighs the bad when it comes to his contributions."

San Francisco fans should be familiar with the 30-year-old Jones, who started his NFL career with the 49ers back in 2017 as a sixth-round draft pick out of Mississippi.

Of note, the Niners' defensive coordinator then was Robert Saleh, who has historically opted for short and squatty nose tackles in base formations, and Jones fit the mold, ultimately thriving in Saleh's defense before ultimately joining the Broncos in free agency in 2022.

Saleh is back with San Francisco again, helming the defense, so it wouldn't be shocking whatsoever if he pressured Lynch into pursuing a one-time vital part of the 49ers defensive line.

What'll intrigue Lynch, of course, is a would-be Jones addition wouldn't hit the Niners' pocketbook much at all, making the possibility of a reunification very likely.

Jones is poised to hit free agency when the league new year begins in March.

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