The 49ers are likely without Javon Hargrave for the rest of 2024, but there’s a simple trade they can make to help mitigate the loss.
The San Francisco 49ers’ 2024 campaign is looking a lot like their 2020 efforts.
Both years followed a Niners Super Bowl loss, and 2024 is beginning to mirror the injury-plagued 2020 season in which an overwhelming bulk of key starters missed significant time.
Following San Francisco’s Week 3 road loss at the Los Angeles Rams, head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave suffered a partially torn triceps muscle and would likely be done for the season.
It’s a massive blow, especially considering the tandem of Hargrave and defensive tackle Maliek Collins was generating a good amount of interior pressure on the young season, including Week 3.
The 49ers’ on-roster options don’t provide a lot of answers. Defensive tackle Kevin Givens, who saw an uptick in 2020 amid injuries, is a fringe player. Another 2024 offseason pickup, Jordan Elliott, is primarily a run-defense specialist.
Simply put, the Niners need more help if they want to keep the defensive line’s interior stout enough to compete.
Fortunately, there’s an easy-to-execute trade that can help solve the problem Hargrave’s absence creates.
49ers should trade with Broncos to reunite with D.J. Jones
Remember now-Denver Broncos defensive tackle D.J. Jones, San Francisco’s sixth-round NFL Draft pick from 2017 who became a full-time starter by 2019?
Jones, following a successful five-year tenure in the Bay Area, signed with Denver in 2022 and has stayed a starter there ever since.
Interestingly enough, there were rumors about the 49ers pursuing Jones last offseason, but nothing came of them.
But, a trade? Sensible.
Jones, 29 years old, is in a contract year, earning up to $12.96 million on the final season of the three-year deal signed when he joined the Broncos. Should the 49ers trade for him, they’d be responsible for a prorated amount of the $9.97 million due to him outside of his signing bonus.
The Niners currently boast $56.9 million in cap space, so they can afford the price tag, and they also have a lengthy history of executing trades with Denver, too, thanks to the rapport between the Broncos and general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Also 1-2, the Broncos don’t figure to be a playoff team and would likely welcome trade assets to build up a roster capable of competing within the tough AFC West, a process needing at least a couple of years.
Should San Francisco be willing to trade away a third- or fourth-round pick for a would-be Jones rental, it’d solve a flurry of woes and help ease the pain of losing Hargrave.
