SF 49ers: 5 most important free agents heading into 2021

No. 5: SF DE Kerry Hyder

When the SF 49ers signed defensive end Kerry Hyder to a one-year contract last offseason, very little was thought of the move, which seemed to be a depth move to help support the elite pass-rush duo of Nick Bosa and Dee Ford, along with interior pressure from Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw, and Solomon Thomas.

Unfortunately for Niners fans, only Armstead and Kinlaw played significant snaps in 2020, forcing Hyder to move from rotational pass-rusher to every-down defensive end.

What followed was the best season of Hyder’s career.

Hyder finished the season with 49 tackles and 8.5 sacks for the 2020 SF 49ers, leading the team in the latter category. He played 786 snaps, including special teams, eclipsing his career-high set back in 2016 with the Detroit Lions.

In addition to the sack numbers, Pro Football Focus attributed him with 55 total pressures, 10 hits, and 36 hurries, suggesting he was a nuisance to opposing offenses even when he didn’t get home. And while Hyder was not anywhere near what Bosa managed in 2019, he was a steady presence along the line.

The reason to bring Hyder back isn’t because the Niners would expect him to replicate the sack numbers necessarily — although he did have eight in the aforementioned 2016 campaign — but because of what they’d envision him being able to do alongside Bosa.

The argument is simple: If Hyder can be good as the main pass-rushing weapon, think of how effective he could be opposite Bosa or spelling him against offensive tackles who are worn down from dealing with the former No. 2 overall pick all game.

Hyder’s 2020 numbers may inflate his salary expectations for this offseason, but if he’s willing to stick around, he’d be a great depth piece to have the next few seasons.