Breaking down the 90 players on the 49ers’ offseason roster in 90 posts (over 90 or so days). Today is edge rusher
This time last year, then-San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen spoke about how he envisioned the team’s new free agent signee, Yetur Gross-Matos. Sorensen spoke about Gross-Matos’s “position flexibility” and how he was flashing during drills. Sorensen described Gross-Matos as somebody with “untapped potential.”
We didn’t get to see much of Gross-Matos last August after he sustained a knee injury in the preseason. It’s Deja Vu as we approach August. Gross-Matos will be sidelined to begin training camp after dealing with “some old knee wear and tear” this summer, per Kyle Shanahan, who also said Gross-Matos should be fine by training camp.
Gross-Matos can take pressure off the rookie defensive lineman the 49ers drafted this past season. That can’t happen when he’s not on the field.
Basic Info
Age: 27
Experience: 5 accrued seasons
Height: 6’5
Weight: 265 pounds
Cap Status
Gross-Matos signed a two-year contract during the 2024 offseason. This is the “big money” year for Gross-Matos, whose base salary balloons from $1.12 million to $7.39 million. His contract voids after this season, despite there being “ghost” years through the 2028 season to spread out Gross-Matos’s $8.2 million signing bonus.
Another injury-plagued season and the 49ers would have no reason to entertain the idea of bringing back Gross-Matos. But if he performs to the level the Niners believe Gross-Matos can play up to, that might put him out of their price range next offseason.
Gross-Matos can help unlock the youngsters
The 49ers improved their depth ten-fold along the defensive line when they traded for Bryce Huff this summer. Was that a move that was made after finding out Gross-Matos’s injury was more severe than the team had initially thought?
This is a unit that has been at their best when they come at you in waves. That was not the case during the previous two seasons. This is the deepest defensive line since DeMeco Ryans departed, but a lot depends on how much Gross-Matos can produce.
A healthy Mykel Williams has star potential, but he just became old enough to purchase liquor. It’s going to take some time for the 49ers’ first-rounder to figure out how he can win as a pro. That’s where Gross-Matos comes in to buy Mykel time.
Once we get to December, the rookie wall will inevitably hit Williams, Alfred Collins, and C.J. West. And while Gross-Matos isn’t technically a defensive tackle, Robert Saleh has no issues kicking edge rushers inside on obvious passing downs. In fact, he prefers it.
The difference in athleticism from Gross-Matos to Robert Beal Jr. is night and day. Just from a depth point of view, Gross-Matos’s importance to this roster is significant. But he can’t help the club from the tub.
Mykel will improve by playing and learning on the fly, but the goal should be to keep Williams and Collins as fresh as possible so they don’t wear down during the playoff run. That’s where Gross-Matos’s 30-ish snaps per game come into play.
Gross-Matos beginning training camp on the Active/PUP list is to protect him. If the 49ers need to devise a plan where Gross-Matos sits out multiple practices in August to maintain his health, then so be it. The domino effect with Gross-Matos’s healthy impacts various players along the defensive line.
Gross-Matos isn’t going anywhere this offseason, as the 49ers would eat $9.6 million in dead money if they released him. The team would have to be really unhappy with Gross-Matos’s injury status if they parted ways with him this season.