The San Francisco 49ers made one of the first big splashes in free agency when they signed former Philadelphia Eagles defender Javon Hargrave to a four-year, $84 million contract. It stands to reason that the 49ers had expressed interest in the talented lineman. But what if the team's interest in Hargrave went back even farther than this year's free agency period?

San Francisco owner Jed York spoke about how the team's recent reluctance to spend in free agency went by the wayside when they were faced with the possibility of adding Hargrave to an already formidable defensive line. In the process, the 49ers owner revealed that the team has had its eyes on the former Eagles standout for quite some time, per Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area.

“Knowing Javon, I remember we loved him when he was coming out of college. He was a guy they liked very much.”

York said that the 49ers loved Hargrave, a product of South Carolina State, when he was “coming out of college.”

San Francisco had to have done their due diligence on the ex-Eagles Pro Bowler, as he was a third-round pick out of a relatively smaller school.

But the team clearly kept tabs on him and, when given the chance to add him in free agency, pounced.

York emphasized that if the 49ers were going to spend, they had better “make it count.”

Make it count, they did.

Hargrave, who turned 30 in February, has tallied 18.5 sacks in the last two years combined while earning Pro Bowl honors in 2021.

Along with Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa and standout interior lineman Arik Armstead, the 49ers defense will boast one of the best lines after the addition of Hargrave.

Now, that's making free agency spending count.