Report: 49ers free up $12 million in cap space with Kittle, Hargrave restructures

Are the 49ers gearing up for more moves during free agency? It certainly looks that way after restructuring two more contracts.

Reports surfaced that the San Francisco 49ers had restructured the current contracts of defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and tight end George Kittle. The moves not only get the 49ers under the 2024 salary cap, but also create close to $12 million in immediate cap space. SF can now work accordingly during free agency, by re-signing, and signing, key rotational players to fill out the roster.

ESPN’s Field Yates delivered the news on Kittle Friday, with Hargrave’s restructure coming a little time before that.

49ers are restructuring George Kittle's contract to create nearly $10m of 2024 cap space, per @FieldYates. Combined with $6.4m of room creating by Hargrave's restructure, SF should now have about $12m of offseason top-51 space to maneuver.

$18m in reinforcements coming 6/2

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) March 15, 2024

Javon Hargrave, 31, joined the 49ers on a four-year mega-deal last offseason. Meanwhile, George Kittle is entering the fourth year of a five-year extension signed in 2020. Their cap hits, per year, are listed below:

Hargrave

2024: $9.27 million
2025: $28.085 million
2026: $29.835 million
2027: $10.07 million (void)
2028: $2.735 million (void)

Kittle

2024: $12.204 million
2025: $21.794 million
2026: $13.334 million (void)
2027: $4.552 million (void)
2028: $2.438 million (void)

49ers 2024 salary-cap space after George Kittle restructure: ~$12 million*

*But some of SF's new deals, including Leonard Floyd's, must still be accounted for. They'll likely be backloaded.

That's the top-51 space right now. The calvary is the $18m coming 6/2 (post-Armstead)

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) March 15, 2024

Hargrave’s restructure converted $7.7 million of his salary into a signing bonus, freeing up $6.15 million in cap space. Kittle’s reworked deal freed up $10 million in cap space, equaling $12 million combined in available funds. SF was over the cap by $4 million and will receive an additional $18 million in relief from Arik Armstead’s departure after June 1st.

Additionally, the 49ers have previously reworked the deals of linebacker Fred Warner and fullback Kyle Juszczyk this week. Both were seen as transactions to get the Red & Gold salary-cap compliant by the star of the 2024 league year Wednesday.

The 49ers may also look at extending cornerback Charvaius Ward, and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, this offseason to create more immediate cap room.

SF has been busy in free agency and on the trade market, bringing in six new players for next season. Those moves haven’t been flashy, per se, but they have added quality depth to the 49ers’ biggest positions of need. And with plenty of time remaining this offseason, more moves for the Red & Gold should be expected.

Are the 49ers on the cusp of making MAJOR MOVES? 👀

The 49ers just freed up about $10 MM by restructuring the contract of George Kittle.

San Francisco also cleared about $6.5 MM by restructuring the contract of Javon Hargrave.

The 49ers restructured the contract for Fred… pic.twitter.com/8c3N1G7QVh

— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) March 15, 2024

For more information on the 49ers 2024 salary cap, click here.

Key offseason dates for the San Francisco 49ers

• March 24-27 – Annual league meeting in Orlando
• April 25-27 – NFL Draft in Detroit

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