D.J. Jones isn’t lying when he says 49ers are built ‘to go all the way’

D.J. Jones arrived in the 49ers’ initial draft class under Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch. He’s seen what’s been built. And he’s sure everyone else can envision what this year is building up to for the 49ers.

“I feel the entire world sees what our organization is doing, the guys we paid and brought in,” Jones said Tuesday in a video call with reporters, in the wake of re-signing on a one-year, $3.5 million deal.

“They’ve built a team with the possibility to go all the way and that’s up to us,” Jones added. “That’s up to the guys in the locker room and how we prepare for a season. Everybody is stoked to see what we have.”

They added to their defensive line’s depth Tuesday by signing Jones’ potential backup: seven-year veteran Zach Kerr, a 334-pound journeyman who’s played with the Colts, Broncos, Cardinals and Panthers.

If the 49ers have a premier defensive line again — and if they add a couple more complementary parts — then they indeed should be playoff contenders, as they were in 2019. That’s when they reached the Super Bowl — and did so with Jones missing the playoff run because of an ankle injury.

“It hurt not being in the Super Bowl two years ago, so that’s my mission to make it to that game and play through that game,” Jones said.

Jones played in a career-high 14 games last season, after appearing in nine, 10 and 11 games his prior seasons.

But injuries to teammates crippled the 49ers’ 2020 hopes, and none impacted the team or at least the defensive line more than Nick Bosa’s Week 2 knee injury.

“Man, Bosa’s coming back, and I’m excited,” Jones said. “I really didn’t want to go anywhere else. I knew this was the perfect place for me. It’s a dream come true.”

What also hurt was losing defensive end Dee Ford to a back injury after the season opener. Ford, according to The Athletic, has been working out at the 49ers facility while rehabilitating. The 49ers reworked his contract last week to save $11 million off this year’s salary cap, spreading out his $11.6 million injury guarantee over the next two years, according to OverTheCap.com.

The only addition so far to that defensive front was last week’s signing of edge rusher Samson Ebukam, who Jones referred to by his nickname, “Sosa.”

Jones also praised how much Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw and under-the-radar lineman Kevin Givens mean to him and the defense.

Those defensive linemen, as well as ex-49ers who’ve gone elsewhere, keep in contact via a text message thread.

“We’ve had it for a while and some of the guys gone are still on it. That’s how tight a group we have each year,” Jones said. “It’s all love, whether a guy’s gone or coming in and added to group chat.”

After losing DeForest Buckner last year, the 49ers’ defensive linemen are adjusting to this offseason’s departures of Solomon Thomas (Raiders) and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh (Jets head coach).

Jones, however, noted that the defensive line continues to be ruled by position coach Kris Kocurek. Whatever happened on the D-line was up to him, and it was successful, so I don’t see much changing,” Jones said.

Even if the scheme won’t change, Jones wants to make personal improvements, specifically finishing off plays. He recounted how he missed “wide open sacks,” though he also commended Jameis Winston — New Orleans Saints’ heir apparent quarterback to Drew Brees — for having the strongest upper body of any quarterback in the game.

“He shook me off with ease, so there’s a lot I can work on, and that’s what I’m doing right now,” added Jones, who is working out in Tampa, Fla.