Nick Bosa believes his new 49ers teammate, Javon Hargrave, deserves a little more respect on his name.
Bosa has gotten a closer look at the former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle since the 49ers signed the 30-year-old in free agency, but he's kept an eye on Hargrave from afar for quite a while.
"I feel like people give him his due, but people don't really know how good he is overall," Bosa said Tuesday after mandatory minicamp. "He's not talked about in that- he might be, but I feel like he isn't quite talked about in the Aaron Donald, top echelon, Chris Jones, but I think he played like that last year and throughout his career. So him and Arik [Armstead] inside should be pretty fun."
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Donald has been the league's best interior defensive lineman for nearly the entirety of his nine-year NFL career. He was a First-Team All-Pro for seven years in a row from 2015-2021.
Last season, though, Jones surpassed Donald's Pro Football Focus top defensive tackle status after Donald missed six games in 2022.
Hargrave is coming off a career season with Philadelphia, registering 11 sacks last season before signing a four-year, $84 million contract with San Francisco on March 13.
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While Hargrave only has earned one Pro Bowl selection in his seven seasons, his impact on the field is clear.
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That's why Bosa -- and many other 49ers players -- were a bit taken aback when the 49ers were able to land the veteran interior lineman.
"Yeah, I was surprised," Bosa said. "With all the talent we have on our team, to add the guy who was the top free agent. I shouldn't be surprised with our team, because [coach] Kyle [Shanahan]'s always trying to improve."
That's all the 49ers aim to do in 2023, and Bosa is confident Hargrave can help the team do just that.