San Francisco 49ers Inform Veteran DE He Is Being Cut, Agents Exploring Next-Team Options
The San Francisco 49ers have made a roster adjustment following their Week 1 victory over the Seattle Seahawks (17-13). Despite high expectations in the offseason, the team decided change was necessary in a crowded and competitive defensive line room.
Through training camp and the preseason, San Francisco evaluated its depth at defensive end, weighing production, health, and long-term value. With Nick Bosa established as DE1 and rookie Mykel Williams showing flashes, patience with a veteran option began to wear thin.
That veteran is Yetur Gross-Matos, who signed a two-year, $18 million deal with the 49ers in 2024 but failed to impress. He totaled just one hurry and no sacks in 18 snaps during Week 1, with a PFF grade of 48.2, and managed only one tackle and one penalty across 20 snaps in the preseason.
“This is the reality of football,” general manager John Lynch said. “We respect every player who comes through here, but the competition in San Francisco is intense. This roster isn’t built in a day—it’s built for the long term. And if someone doesn’t meet the standard, we have to make changes.”
Gross-Matos’s struggles extended beyond one game. After posting only 4.0 sacks in 11 games with San Francisco in 2024, hampered by a knee injury, he entered 2025 with lingering questions about his consistency and fit in a deep defensive line rotation.
Meanwhile, the 49ers front office sent another strong message by promoting rookie Alfred Collins from the practice squad. The former Texas Longhorn, known for his pass-rush upside, is expected to slot in immediately as a rotational DE behind Bosa and Williams.
The move makes an already deep defensive line room even more competitive. San Francisco now features Bosa, Williams, Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, and depth options like Kevin Givens and Khalil Davis. With Gross-Matos waived, the defensive front is stacked with youth, power, and versatility.
Financially, moving on from Gross-Matos made sense. His $9.6 million cap hit in 2025 carried just $1.8 million in dead money, saving the team nearly $2.9 million in cap space with a pre-June 1 cut, or up to $7.8 million if designated post-June 1. That flexibility opens options for other roster additions, including rumored interest in a veteran cornerback to bolster the secondary.
For the 49ers, the message is clear: every spot is earned, not given. With Collins in the mix, San Francisco hopes to solidify a dominant defensive line capable of powering another deep playoff run.
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