The 49ers already stated they were going to release Javon Hargrave, and recent reports state that will take place as soon as the league new year begins.
Late last season, the San Francisco 49ers restructured veteran defensive tackle Javon Hargrave's contract while he was rehabilitating from a triceps injury that all but wiped out his 2024 campaign.
Doing so suggested the Niners were going to make him an offseason cap casualty, predicted by Over the Cap to be of the post-June 1 variety, which would generate significantly more cap savings.
Upon the season's conclusion, general manager John Lynch told reporters San Francisco was looking to release Hargrave but would welcome him back under the right circumstances, meaning at a significantly cheaper price than the $9.2 million he counted against the cap last year.
Essentially, Lynch admitted it'd be difficult to have the two-time Pro Bowler back unless it was on the cheap.
There was some scuttlebutt about the 49ers potentially dangling Hargrave on the trade market, although the veteran's age and recent history would have been obvious deterrents to any acquiring team.
So, not surprisingly, the Niners are ultimately going to release the 32 year old.
49ers to release Javon Hargrave at start of NFL new year
The Friday before the start of the league new year, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported San Francisco had "informed" Hargrave of his imminent release:
49ers have informed defensive tackle Javon Hargrave that he will be released on the first day of the league year next week, per source. Hargrave will be a free agent. pic.twitter.com/7d3LFBTrhq
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 6, 2025
What Schefter didn't include in his post, however, is whether or not the move will include a post-June 1 designation, of which teams get two each offseason.
Per OTC, such a designation would save the 49ers over $12 million in cap space over the next two years at a dead-money hit of $7.375 million in 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028.
If that's the route taken, the Niners wouldn't enjoy the additional cap benefit until June 1.
However, as was seen with wide receiver Deebo Samuel's trade (instead of a release), San Francisco has been interested in not spending cash, so an outright release now would indicate it wouldn't owe another penny to Hargrave despite the cap hits. Note, cash spend and cap space are two very different things.
Either way, it appears as if Hargrave has spent his final days in a 49ers uniform.
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