This is the live blog for 49ers free agency. It will be updated frequently.
The open contact period of NFL free agency kicks off on Monday morning at 9:00 Pacific. Teams can negotiate with free agents; however, contracts do not become official until the start of the new league year Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.
9:00 A.M.
The 49ers agreed to a one-year deal with veteran safety Tashaun Gipson. Gipson joined the 49ers midway through training camp and the free safety went on to lead the team in interceptions last season.
This is a good signing for San Francisco. Gipson is a solid player, and the short-term deal does not keep the team from adding a player through the draft.
9:35 A.M.
San Francisco is rumored to be interested in adding Za’Darius Smith after the veteran pass rusher requested his release from the Minnesota Vikings late last week.
Smith would be a terrific fit for a 49ers defense in need of a pass rush threat opposite Nick Bosa. He has posted double digit sack totals in three of the last four seasons.
Despite missing all but one game in 2021, Smith returned in 2022 to record 10 sacks in his first season with Minnesota.
10:10 A.M.
According to Josina Anderson, the 49ers have shown interest in cornerback Tre Herndon.
Herndon played primarily in the slot last year for Jacksonville. The five-year veteran allowed 414 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 117.5 when targeted last season.
10:25 A.M.
BOOM!!
According to Adam Schefter the 49ers have reach agreement with defensive tackle Javon Hargrave on a four-year, $84 million deal that includes $40 million guaranteed at signing.
Hargrave is coming off a career best season with the Philadelphia Eagles which saw the now 30-year-old finish with 11 sacks.
San Francisco stays true to their belief of building the defense from the front back. Pairing Hargrave with Arik Armstead in the middle of the defensive line will create pressure in the face of opposing quarterbacks while also helping free up Nick Bosa.
11:00 A.M
The 49ers continue making moves along the defensive line, re-signing restricted free agent Kevin Givens to a one-year deal worth $2.1 million.
Givens recorded 15 total quarterback pressures in 2022 to go along with seven tackles for loss, second most on the team.
12:50 P.M.
According to reports, the 49ers have reached out to representatives of cornerback Emmanuel Moseley. San Francisco is requesting the opportunity to match any offer Moseley is looking for.
Moseley’s 2022 season was off to a solid start before suffering a season ending knee injury against Carolina in early October.
2:15 P.M.
According to Adam Schefter, San Francisco has agreed to terms with Sam Darnold.
Darnold was the third pick in the 2018 NFL draft. The former USC Trojan struggled through three seasons with the Jets and was traded during the 2021 offseason.
Starving for a quarterback, Carolina sent a 2021 sixth-round pick and second and fourth-round picks in 2022 to New York in exchange for Darnold.
After another down season in 2021, Darnold was replaced by Baker Mayfield and P.J. Walker to begin 2022. Darnold got another chance after Mayfield was benched due to poor play and Walker was injured.
Darnold mad the most of his opportunity, leading Carolina to a 4-2 record over the final six weeks of the season. He finished 2022 completing just 58.6 percent of his 140 passes with seven touchdowns and three interceptions.
6:10 P.M.
According to Ian Rapoport, Jimmie Ward is expected to sign with the Houston Texans.
Ward lost the starting free safety job to Tashaun Gipson last season but played well in the slot once returning.
Samuel Womack started the first couple games last season in the slot before being replaced by Deommodore Lenoir and eventually Ward. The 49ers will be making a move to fill this spot.
Depth Chart
Here is how I see the 49ers depth chart at this time. I will update this throughout the offseason and training camp. Players with new contracts will be in bold.
| Offense | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | Player 4 |
| Quarterback | Brock Purdy | Trey Lance | Sam Darnold | |
| Running Back | Christian McCaffrey | Elijah Mitchell | Jordan Mason | Ty Davis-Price |
| Fullback | Kyle Juszczyk | |||
| LWR | Brandon Aiyuk | Danny Gray | ||
| RWR | Deebo Samuel | Jauan Jennings | Ray-Ray McCloud | |
| TE | George Kittle | Charlie Woerner | ||
| Left Tackle | Trent Williams | |||
| Left Guard | Aaron Banks | |||
| Center | Nick Zakelj | |||
| Right Guard | Spencer Burford | |||
| Right Tackle | Colton McKivitz | Jaylon Moore |
| Defense | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 |
| LDE | Drake Jackson | ||
| LDT | Javon Hargrave | Javon Kinlaw | Kalia Davis |
| RDT | Arik Armstead | Kevin Givens | |
| RDE | Nick Bosa | ||
| WLB | Dre Greenlaw | Oren Burks | |
| MLB | Fred Warner | Marcelino McCrary-Ball | |
| SLB | Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles | ||
| LCB | Deommodore Lenoir | Ambry Thomas | |
| SS | Talanoa Hufanga | ||
| FS | Tashaun Gipson | George Odum | |
| RCB | Charvarius Ward | ||
| NB | Samuel Womack | ||
| Special Teams | Player 1 | |||||
| Kicker | ||||||
| Punter | Mitch Wishnowsky | |||||
| Long Snapper |
Taybor Pepper
|
|||||
| Reserves | ||||||
| Alfredo Gutierrez (OL) | Curtis Robinson (LB) | Alex Barrett (DE) | Jason Poe (OL) | A.J. Parker (CB) | ||
| Qwuantrezz Knight (DB) | Tayler Hawkins (S) | Keith Ismael (OC) | Leroy Watson (OL) | Tay Martin (WR) | ||
| Dazz Newsome (WR) | Tyron Johnson (WR) | Tre Swilling (CB) | ||||
49ers signing Hargrave 4 yrs 84 mill
OldCoach
* To appreciate the trade Lynch made with the Eagles for Hargrave, you have to know that the $84 Mil contract he signed was the same amount he was making with the Eagles.
* I suspect Philly GM, Howie Roseman, chose to trade Hargrave to afford keeping Darius Slay, Robert Quinn, Jason Kelcy and James Bradberry?
* Here is a list of Philly 2023 FA’s. I suspect other players sign contracts with different NFL teams?
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/philadelphia-eagles/
I don’t think we will be seeing another signing until mid/late next week. Maybe A. Key. Will we be seeing a trade to make cap room?
Very good signing. Hardgrave can really shore-up the interior Dline.
This signing may spell the end of the Javon Kinlaw experiment.
The crazy world of free agency always brings surprises. I was convinced that McGlinchey was a sure thing for the Bears, and then he goes to Denver.
One thing that I’ve learned about football over the last 60 yrs is that the football fans have no clue what the front office knows and will do.
Your last statement is why I rarely speculate on moves because we just don’t have the knowledge that the professionals have. As for Kinlaw, again we just don’t know. Maybe he still has knee issues or maybe he just needs to get back in shape. The Niners know this but we don’t. It’s too early to write him off but we’ll likely know for sure at some point this season. I would speculate that this is probably their only major free agent signing but more surprises are likely.
If the 49ers choose to keep Kinlaw it may help take the pressure off the 49ers and Kinlaw to rush back from his chronic knee issue.
And yes, the fans don’t know how the FO is thinking, but nothing we as fans say should be taken as gospel either.
Speculating on your teams possible moves is what adds to our entertainment.
It’s always been like that, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.
Look at it this way, at least it’s given you something to respond to.
AES
IMO, Kinlaw won’t be cut this season (Dead cap hit) and no one will trade for him with bad knee.
2023 is a prove it season, or he’s gone.
GEEP,
I read somewhere that the 49ers are on the hook for a shade over $10mil of dead money being paid out to Dee Ford, Trey Sermon and Alex Mack.
But if the 49ers can find a trade partner that would like to take a chance on Kinlaw it might be a financial wash for the 49ers.
But if Kinlaw stays with the 49ers he could be allowed the opportunity to give his knee ample time to get well, now with Hargrave in the fold.
Old Coach
Who do you suspect the 9ers would trade to make cap room…..Aiyuk?
Geep,
I’m not sure how much Aiyuk would save them in cap room. Deebo is the only one I could see saving them a lot of cap room. It is more likely that they restructure a number of contracts but that will lead to serious future cap problems.
Old Coach
I agree! Aiyuk wouldn’t save much in 2023 (~$2.3 Mil), but 2024 Spotrac shows $14,124,000 salary.
I hope the 9ers don’t mortgage their future by backloading contracts!
Hargrove is a really good signing
Garoppolo on his way to Vegas.
I wish him the best. He was a great signing for the 49ers and played a big part in making the 49ers relevant again. And from all reports, he was a great teammate and respected by the entire franchise.
He did right by the 49ers.
Good luck, Jimmy G.
Ditto
More like good riddance! Jimmy G was a loser just like Alex Smith! Two guys who spend more time checking out their looks in the mirror than looking at the defenses on the field!
AES,
Its strange but I think the Raiders have become my team in the AFC.
It’s all good Coach. But I can’t ever root for the raiders after Jim Otto kicked me and my cousin out of Frank Youell Field over 50 yrs ago 😡 lol.
Jack, you’re doing a great job covering free agency. Such sound analysis and reporting, especially compared to Grant Cohn and David Lombardi who as of this writing had nothing. Cohn is such a clickster.
DT Javon Hargrave signing…..Lynch once again pulls a rabbit out of his hat! Gotta love it! Now the question is, who’s contract will be restructured?
* IN OTHER NEWS: LA Lams pay the price for their SB win as they trade their high priced stars, by trading Jalen Ramsey to Miami. 9er fans claim Deebo ran him out of the NFC West…..LOL
I don’t think that Maverick John is done.
Is Hargrave a 1 tech? Don’t know much about him other than he had 11 Sacks. Not sure if that means he only had 11 good plays on the year or if he is good against the run and pass. I think a true 0 technique would be fantastic in this defense but the 49ers have always opted for a different style of player.
Pat,
All that I have heard/read about him is he is equally good against the run as he is the pass. He reminds me of a shorter D. Buckner.
AES
I Don’t see the Raiders beating KC or the Bills in 2023 and keep an eye on Miami. Mike McDaniel is building team that IMO, will contend for the AFC East in 2023
GEEP,
I’m not a fan of any team other than the 49ers, but I would like to see McDaniels, Saleh and Ryans do well. Ryans will take a while to build the Texans, but Saleh and especially McDaniels have their teams on the rise.
The 49ers machine has been a nice production line for creating future head coaches.
1.6 / OC
In 2016 Hargrave was signed by the Steelers and played as a 6′ 2″ NG until 2020.
In 2020, the Steelers traded Hargrave to the Eagles. The Eagles DC, Jonathan Gannon, utilized both a 3-4 and a
4-3 defensive front. Hargrave was used as both a NT and a DT.
From what I can remember, Hargrave played NT (3-4) 2 gap, zero tech), on 1st and 2nd down and DT (4-3, 3T) on 3Rd and passing downs. He may have moved out to 5T, but again, if memory serves, Derek Barnett played DE (5T not 7T), next to Hargrave?
And now that I’ve gone out on a limb, we’ll see if someone saws it off…lol
Damn. That’s insane versatility. A true Shanahan trait.
Brendel 4 year extension. This will help solidify the line.
Jimmy? Alex? Losers? Smh