Like many teams this offseason, the Denver Broncos are expected to make a plethora of cap-saving moves. This could prove to be a good thing for the 49ers. And no, I'm not alluding to Russell Wilson here. Broncos defensive tackle D.J. Jones is "likely gone," according to Broncos and NFL insider Ben Allbright.
I don't think Bolles gets cut. Tim might be a contract redo, they had huge pans.for him befor the got hurt.
DJ Jones and Jeudy are two that are likely gone, yes. https://t.co/GKu7AltIhm
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) March 7, 2024
The 49ers drafted Jones late in the 2017 draft. He quickly outperformed his sixth-round draft position, becoming a force in their interior rotation, particularly in the run game. He played his entire rookie contract with San Francisco, and while the 49ers signed him to a one-year deal in 2021, a long-term extension was never agreed to and Jones walked in free agency in 2022.
The Broncos signed Jones to a three-year, $30 million contract. Over the past two seasons, Jones played more snaps than he ever did with the 49ers and notched 48 pressures, four sacks, and 59 total tackles, per Pro Football Focus.
If cut, D.J. Jones would become a free agent and join a long list of options for the 49ers. Perhaps returning to San Francisco under defensive line coach Kris Kocurek could give the 29-year-old one final boost in his career. Given his time with the 49ers and their current need to replenish the defensive line, Jones could make a lot of sense for both sides. But, the 49ers likely won't be the only ones interested.
Robert Saleh's Jets and DeMeco Ryans' Texans would also make a ton of sense. If the 49ers really want Jones without the worry of competing with other teams with more cap, maybe they could even negotiate a conditional Day 3 pick trade with the Broncos. The 49ers currently hold 11 total picks in April's draft.