STANFORD, Calif. — Fifteen years ago, the 49ers opened free agency in grand fashion, whisking Justin Smith on a helicopter tour around the Bay Area before the defensive tackle downed beers all night with his future defensive coordinator.
John Lynch chuckled Wednesday when asked of the 49ers’ courting process for this year’s top target: another defensive tackle, Javon Hargrave.
There wasn’t much time, you see, to score the biggest coup – or surprise — of the NFL’s free agency window.
“You don’t get much of an opportunity because the window is so defined and short,” Lynch replied. “When we went, we went really hard. We didn’t soft-shoe into it. We went right in there, and let him know our opportunity and vision.”
Hargrave liked what he saw: a four-year, $84 million contract to lure him away from the Philadelphia Eagles.
“When you go into free agency and have a great team that wants you, it’s not a hard decision,” Hargrave said last week. “That’s all you like in football: winning and getting paid.”
About 1 ½ weeks into free agency, the 49ers have kept intact their starting core, replaced some veterans who’ve left, and still need to add depth, plus a kicker following Robbie Gould’s announced split.
Here are four takeaways from speaking with Lynch at Stanford’s pre-draft, pro-day workouts:
1. ‘GAME CHANGER’
Hargrave is touted by Lynch as a game changer, though he was not the Eagles defender who wrecked the 49ers’ plans in the NFC Championship Game; it was Hasson Reddick who hit Brock Purdy’s elbow in Philly’s 31-7 win. Lynch said Hargrave was “not really” on their free agency radar at the time.
Once the offseason got underway, however, Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan identified where improvement was most crucial, and that was “getting back to being dominate on the D-line.
“We’d been good but felt we had fallen off a little,” Lynch said. “It’s a hard thing to do. Either you have to pay someone or draft real high, or get real lucky.”
Six years ago, Shanahan came to Stanford’s pro day and watched Solomon Thomas, a defensive tackle who’d become the 49ers’ top pick at No. 3 overall. What was the case in 2017 remains true today: the 49ers want to dominant on the defensive front. Hargrave was this year’s top target, especially since Washington placed the franchise tag on Daron Payne.
They’ll ideally do so this coming season with Nick Bosa back as the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa, with ninth-year veteran Arik Armstead an interior fixture next to Hargrave, and with a combination of Drake Jackson and Clelin Ferrell at the other defensive end spot. Also joining that mix is Austin Bryant, a teammate of Ferrell’s at Clemson, who agreed Wednesday to a one-year deal, per NFL Network.
That will allow defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw to work part-time in a robust rotation. Kinlaw, by the way, is starting this offseason with a healthier knee than in past years. The 49ers have no designs to trade him ahead of the fourth (and final) year of his rookie contract.
2. NICKEL BACK FIX
Isaiah Oliver, after five seasons with Atlanta, is the front-runner to take over at nickel back, an overlooked but important role Jimmie Ward reluctantly played last season after K’Waun Williams 2022 free agency exit.
Oliver comes with the endorsement of new 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who coached in the NFC South last season with Carolina.
“Steve Wilks really identified him as, for today’s football, he’s almost the prototype for the nickel back position: bigger, longer athletic, and with all these screens going on, he uses his hands really well,” Lynch said.
Lynch said the 49ers’ scouts liked Oliver coming out of Colorado in 2018, and that they liked him even more once the second-round pick was converted to nickel back by the Falcons. “And he’s another year off the ACL, which is a really good thing,” Lynch said of Oliver’s 2021 knee injury. “Even he was saying, at the end of the season, he finally felt his legs were back. I think we’re getting him at the right time.”
What is their secondary getting in Myles Hartsfield, a three-year veteran who also won over Wilks in Carolina? “Versatility is a key there,” Lynch said. “He can play some nickel, he can play either safety, he’s a really good special teams player, and Steve said that by coaching him, he’s a very dependable guy. You can all trust to throw into a multitude of roles.”
3. QUARTERBACK UPDATES
Brock Purdy is rehabilitating his elbow in his native Arizona, doing so with a specialist who returns baseball players’ arms back to health.
Meanwhile, Trey Lance’s ankle is still “doing great” and he’s throwing on the side, a month before the 49ers’ offseason program begins.
The 49ers’ plan if those comebacks falter? Sam Darnold, who committed to the 49ers as free agency opened March 13.
“I feel we’ve studied him forever, back when he was the No. 1 pick and we were looking for trade options,” Lynch said of Darnold, the New York Jets’ first-round pick (No. 3 overall). Darnold got traded two years ago to Carolina, a run-oriented team that better fit his skills.
“He kind of was craving what we could provide: a really cool structure on offense that’s tailor-made for his skill set. That’s what he bought into,” Lynch said. “We’re excited about Sam.”
4. KICKER VACANCY
The 49ers have 11 draft picks, so one certainly could be spent on a kicker to replace Gould, though Lynch noted veteran options remain in free agency. The 49ers will want Gould’s successor to continue his double duty and moonlight as a kickoff specialist.
“There’s still guys out there that are NFL-quality kickers. We’re looking at everything,” Lynch said.
Among the free agents on the market: Mason Crosby, Randy Bullock, Chase McLaughlin, Eddy Pineiro, and Brett Maher.
Gould remains available, but he announced March 4 that he would not be returning to the franchise after six seasons. The Dallas Cowboys are a logical landing spot, perhaps the Los Angeles Rams, if they meet his asking price.
The Indianapolis Colts made Matt Gay the highest paid kicker ever in free agency (four years, $22.5 million). Re-signing with their teams were Jason Myers (Seahawks), Will Lutz (Saints), Greg Zuerlein (Jets), Matt Prater (Cardinals), Greg Joseph (Vikings), Riley Patterson (Jaguars) and Cameron Dicker (Chargers).
