Nick Bosa had one of his best seasons as a pro in 2022, leading the league in sacks with 18.5 and earning NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors for the first time in his career.
He may just be getting started. That’s because Bosa’s job of getting to the quarterback was made easier when the 49ers surprisingly signed defensive tackle Javon Hargrave away from the Philadelphia Eagles on the first day of free agency in March.
“I’m super excited,” Bosa recently told reporters about the move. “We’ve been watching tape on him the past few years in Philly. Every time we watch him, Kris [49ers defensive line coach Kris Kocurek] would rave about him.
We think of him as one of the best interior guys in the league, especially rushing the passer. To have him on our side is going to be a huge addition for us.”
Anchored by Bosa and defensive tackle Eric Armstead, the 49ers already had one of the more formidable defensive lines in the NFL. But the addition of Hargrave raises San Francisco to elite status.
“He’s just real humble,” Hargrave said about his initial interactions with Bosa. “Being Defensive Player of the Year, with me coming in just being there to talk with me, welcoming me in and trying to help me catch up on things. It’s kind of like a family.”
The seven-year veteran had his best season last year for the Eagles, finishing with a career-high 11 sacks to help Philadelphia lead the league with 70 during the regular season. Edge Haason Reddick had a career-high 16 sacks for the Eagles, thanks in part to Hargrave consistently pushing the pocket inside.
Kocurek said Hargrave was at the top of his list of free agents, but he didn’t know if the 49ers would have an opportunity to get him. Ultimately, San Francisco signed Hargrave to a four-year, $84 million deal that includes $40 million in guaranteed money.
“It’s just one more piece to the puzzle,” Kocurek told reporters about signing Hargrave. “A very talented piece of the puzzle, obviously. I’ve followed Javon throughout his career, and he’s always been a really talented player.
“But I think the last couple years in Philly he’s really separated himself from a lot of the other interior players in the game, especially from a pass rush standpoint — from pressuring the quarterback to being able to win one-on-ones at a really high rate. There’s only a couple of guys in the NFL that have won at a rate that he’s won
