As if the San Francisco 49ers needed to keep improving, one of their defensive stars is reportedly poised for a bounce-back season.
San Francisco will enter 2024 on the short list of Super Bowl favorites, regardless of what happens with Brandon Aiyuk.
An enormous element of the 49ers' success is their defensive line, led by 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa.
Alongside Bosa on San Francisco's dangerous D-line is two-time Pro Bowler Javon Hargrave, whom the 49ers signed in March 2023 to a four-year, $84 million deal.
Hargrave was very solid last season with seven sacks and 44 total tackles in 16 starts, but he was dealing with an off-the-field tragedy that would deter anyone from playing at their best.
On Monday, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported as part of his training camp takeaways that Hargrave is on the precipice of a monstrous season.
"The San Francisco 49ers are going to get their money’s worth from Javon Hargrave this year," Breer said. "The big-ticket defensive tackle went through a lot last year, not the least of which was losing close friend and ex-Browns DL Chris Smith. He’s in a much better place a year later and, San Francisco thinks, ready to be a force next to Nick Bosa."
If Hargrave does indeed build upon his first year with San Francisco and play even better this season, NFC offenses will have a lot of trouble advancing the ball downfield at Levi's Stadium.
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