5 pending free agents SF 49ers must re-sign in 2021
By Peter Panacy
SF 49ers Re-Sign Target No. 5: EDGE Kerry Hyder
2020 Cap Hit: $1.5 million
The Niners’ once-elite pass rush took a major hit when it lost EDGE Nick Bosa to a season-ending ACL tear and then saw fellow EDGE Dee Ford go out indefinitely with a back injury. Tack on the 2019 loss of depth defensive end Ronald Blair, and it shouldn’t be a surprise San Francisco currently ranks 21st in sacks this season with just 10.
There has been a proverbial silver lining to these injuries, though, and that’s been the re-emergence of former Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys EDGE Kerry Hyder.
Signed to a one-year deal to supplement the pass-rushing depth, Hyder now finds himself the team leader in sacks (3.5) and has regularly been a source of quarterback pressure over these first six weeks. At 29 years old, he’s certainly not on the ascent. But it’s pretty clear he’s benefited under his former defensive line coach in Detroit, Kris Kocurek, who now holds the same role in San Francisco.
Retaining Hyder, even if only on a one-year deal in 2021, would allow the SF 49ers to move on from Blair, especially in the wake of his injury complications and setbacks, and keep the reserve pass-rusher an integral part of the team’s depth chart.
Probably on the cheap, too.