Javon

Hargrave

The Vikings’ top-tier defense just got better. Hargrave suffered a season-ending torn triceps in Week 3, 2024, but managed to generate eight quarterback pressures and one sack before the injury. At 32 years old, Hargrave is no longer the dominant DT he once was but DC Brian Flores should be able to maximize Hargrave’s current abilities.

The Vikings are pouring resources into the defensive line in free agency, adding Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, who inked a three-year deal with the Vikings on Tuesday morning. Hargrave, who logged 21.5 sacks from 2021-2023, missed most of the 2024 season with a serious triceps injury. This move isn’t completed yet because Hargrave’s release from the 49ers is not yet official, but the terms seem agreed to. He’ll be an immediate upgrade for a Minnesota defensive line graded by PFF as last season’s eighth-worst pass rushing unit.

The move won’t be official until the new league year but is a done deal either way. Lynch noted that the team has interest in bringing Hargrave back for the 2025 season after he is released. San Francisco signed the veteran pass-rusher to a four-year, $80 million contract two years ago. He tallied a modest seven sacks in 2023 and missed all but three games because of a torn tricep this year. The 49ers will only save $2.4 million in cap space while incurring a dead cap hit of $25 million, spread over two years.

This was the expected outcome after it was revealed the veteran defensive tackle suffered a partially torn triceps in the team’s Week 3 loss to the Rams. Hargrave is expected to undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the 2024 season.

Hargrave’s most recent injury was initially reported as a contusion, with head coach Kyle Shanahan revealing to the media today that the veteran defensive tackle partially tore his tricep in the team’s Week 3 loss to the Rams. He will now miss the remainder of the 2024 regular season.

Lynch didn’t specify when the injury to Hargrave occurred nor how the team would handle the injury going forward. Regardless, the injury shouldn’t be anything that sidelines him during critical parts of the offseason. Hargrave totaled 44 tackles and seven sacks for the 49ers this season, and has three years remaining on the deal he signed with the team last offseason.

Armstead will now miss his second-straight game as he continues to recover from the multitude of injuries he suffered in Week 13 against the Eagles. The 49ers didn’t place him on injured reserve, which suggests he could return in less than four weeks. In addition to Armstead, the 49ers also ruled out defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (hamstring), leaving their defense thin up front.

Hargrave left the 49ers Week 14 game against the Seahawks with the hamstring issue and did not return. The extent of his injury is unknown at this time, though Kyle Shanahan did not rule him out when talking about the injury earlier this week. San Francisco’s defense has been elite all year but is taking on water because of injuries in recent weeks. Hargrave has six sacks and seven TFLs this year.

Per 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, Hargrave is dealing with a knee issue that flared up on Thursday. He should be able to play through the injury, though the 49ers will need to put him through a pre-game workout to be sure. As expected, Hargrave has been an elite addition to the 49ers’ defense this year. He has three sacks and five TFLs plus another seven QB hits.

The deal includes $40 million guaranteed. It’s a king’s ransom for a 30-year-old who just closed out his three-year Eagles contract with a mammoth 11 sacks from the interior. Although he earned poor run marks from Pro Football Focus in Philadelphia, Hargrave was a genuine pass-rushing menace. He was also better against the run in Pittsburgh. As was the case in Philly, he will be surrounded by defensive talent in San Francisco, creating mismatches and allowing him to continue to go to work and wreak some havoc. It’s a “the rich stay rich” move for the Niners and a big-loss for the cap-strapped Eagles.