Kyle Shanahan was glowing in week 3, despite the loss against the Rams. “It’s a big one,” he said about Javon Hargrave’s impact on the field. And honestly? He wasn’t wrong. Hargrave was a wrecking ball against the pass and a nightmare for Matthew Stafford. It was the kind of performance that makes a coach grin like he’s just unlocked a cheat code.

But the NFL? It’s a cruel game.

One week, you’re dominating. The next, you’re on the sidelines with a torn triceps, watching your team try to stay afloat. Fast forward to now, and the 49ers are cutting ties with Hargrave. The defensive tackle played just three games in 2024 before his season (and, ultimately, his time in San Francisco) came to a screeching halt.

The team will officially release him when the new league year kicks off on March 12, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. That means the four-year, $84 million deal Hargrave signed in 2023? Yeah, that didn’t exactly go according to plan.

But let’s not act surprised. Back in January, GM John Lynch already hinted this was coming. “Would we be interested in having him back? Of course,” he said. But interest doesn’t always translate into action. With the Niners needing to free up cap space, Hargrave became the odd man out. And just like that, a key piece of the Gold Rush D front is set to hit the open market.

So, what’s next for the two-time Pro Bowler? Well, Pittsburgh seems to have entered the chat. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that the Steelers are eyeing a reunion, which would bring Hargrave back to where his NFL journey started. He was a third-round pick for them in 2016 and proved to be a reliable force on their defensive line before cashing in with the Eagles in 2020.

Could the Steelers make room for him again? That depends on how they navigate their cap situation, but the interest is real.

Hargrave’s stock isn’t what it was a year ago, but let’s be honest—when healthy, he’s still a problem for offenses. There’s a reason why Kyle Shanahan gave him his flowers. But let’s see what is next on the bingo card for him because for Kyle and Co. it’s not looking an easy offseason.

Kyle Shanahan must put his thinking glasses on this offseason

Kyle Shanahan has had better weeks.

First, the 49ers shipped off Deebo Samuel, a six-year veteran and locker room presence, to Washington for a 2025 fifth-round pick. Then, just when the dust was settling, another gut punch: a brutal $31 million dead cap hit. That’s right, $31 million! If Shanahan thought parting ways with Samuel was tough, the financial aftermath is straight-up painful.

Now, let’s talk about Deebo’s exit because this wasn’t just about money. “Not struggling at all, just not getting the ball!!!!!!!” Samuel had tweeted back in December, hinting at frustration over his role in the offense. Though he quickly backtracked, the damage was done.

Fast forward to March 1, and boom—Deebo is a Commander. The trade won’t be official until the league year starts on March 12, but San Francisco has made its stance clear. They were moving on, no matter the cost. But here’s the kicker—cutting ties with Samuel didn’t just shake up the depth chart.

It shredded the 49ers’ cap space. As per Spotrac, the move slaps the team with a $31 million dead cap charge and wipes out $15.1 million of their available space. Not exactly ideal for a franchise trying to stay in Super Bowl contention.

Was this the right move? ESPN’s Seth Walder seems to think so, grading the trade a ‘B+’ for San Francisco. Why? Because the 49ers were likely going to release Samuel anyway. Instead of letting him walk for nothing, they at least squeezed out a draft pick.

Plus, they’ve already invested in Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall and might double down on Jauan Jennings. Keeping Deebo on a pricey three-year, $71.5 million extension? That was never in the cards. This was about cutting losses and moving forward.

But let’s be real—this doesn’t make things easier for Shanahan. Losing a key playmaker is one thing; navigating a massive cap hit is another. The 49ers are already the NFL’s highest-spending team, shelling out $334.5 million in player costs.

Now, with Deebo gone and their finances taking a hit, Shanahan and GM John Lynch have to work some serious magic. Moves will be made, tough decisions are coming, and you can bet the rest of the league is watching. Because the 49ers’ next steps? They could define their 2025 season.