49ers sign DL Zach Kerr to a one-year deal

The San Francisco 49ers announced they had signed DL Zach Kerr to a one-year deal. Kerr was an undrafted free agent in 2014 that signed with the Colts and has bounced around from the Broncos to the Cardinals to the Panthers. Kerr has appeared in 88 games, starting in 16 of them. Kerr started four games in Carolina this past season.

Kerr is 30 and likely a rotational player. He’s a nose tackle by trade but is a lot more athletic than you’d expect from a 330-pound man. Sports Info Solutions has Kerr’s points saved at 16 this past year, which is a career-high by six points from the Cardinals the year before. It’s not always the case, but Kerr appears to get better with more reps.

Kerr is likely the team’s backup nose tackle to D.J. Jones. If the goal was to get more athletic upfront, San Francisco has achieved that. Kerr finished last season with two sacks, 12 hurries, and eight QB hits. He’s an upgrade from the current depth that’s on the roster.