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The San Francisco 49ers signed defensive lineman Kerry Hyder on March 23. Hyder played 439 snaps with the Cowboys in 2019. He also spent time with Kris Kocurek in Detroit before playing in Dallas. Hyder can play both defensive end and tackle, which adds to his value for the Niners defense. Hyder may be needed on the edge of Ronald Blair isn’t fully recovered from his ACL injury and has to start the season on the PUP list.
For Dallas, Hyder was more of a situational pass-rusher than a starter. In 2019, Hyder played over 40 snaps just once all year, which came in the first week of the season. Hyder won’t need to play “starter” snaps in San Francisco as Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, and Dee Ford will do the heavy lifting. If Hyder can come in and give the 49ers 25-30 quality snaps along the defensive line, the Niners coaches will be thrilled.
Basic Info
Age: 29 (turned 29 on May 2)
Experience: Four accrued seasons
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 275 pounds
Cap status
Hyder signed a one-year deal worth $1.2 million. If Hyder is released, the 49ers save $950,000 and will have $550,000 in dead money.
What to expect in 2020
In 2016 under Kocurek, Hyder had 55 total pressures, including eight sacks on 440 pass-rushing snaps. If the 49ers can get anywhere close to that type of production, this season from Hyder San Francisco will be one of the few teams in the past decade to eclipse 60 sacks. Hyder feels like the player the Niners coaching staff wants Solomon Thomas to be. A high-effort player that excels when he’s on the move and can play multiple positions.
Expecting Hyder to produce similar as he did in 2016 isn’t fair to him. I keep harping on this point, but the talent that’s on the line and even on the rest of the field is set up for whoever the fourth pass rusher is to have a field day. Can Hyder take advantage of the 49ers’ talent?
Odds on making the roster
The 49ers have a lot of youth on the defensive line. Hyder’s veteran presence will help his odds of making the roster, as will his versatility. If Hyder was only an edge or defensive tackle, it wouldn’t be as easy to make the team. While there’s plenty of young talent like Kevin Givens and Kentavius Street, Hyder doesn’t come with those same projections. That’s why he’ll be on the roster Week 1.