Could D.J. Jones become available for the 49ers?

The 49ers drafted Jones late in the 2017 draft. He quickly outperformed his 6th-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 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 dollar contract. Over the past two seasons, Jones played more snaps than he ever did with the 49ers and notched 48 pressures, 4 sacks, and 59 total tackles (PFF).

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 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 Ryan's Texans would make a ton of sense as well. 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.