49ers free agency: Breaking down Zach Kerr fit within D-line

The 49ers are signing veteran defensive lineman Zach Kerr to bolster the defensive front, and here’s how he’ll likely fit in 2021.

The San Francisco 49ers don’t want to go through the same injury attrition they suffered along their defensive line in 2020.

Part of the shortages were experienced within the interior of the D-line, namely missing players like nose tackle D.J. Jones and defensive tackles Solomon Thomas and Ronald Blair for extensive portions of the season.

The Niners figure to be much healthier this upcoming season, particularly with players like Jones and EDGE Nick Bosa back. But that didn’t stop general manager John Lynch and Co. from grabbing some additional veteran help on the NFL free agency market.

By no means flashy, but San Francisco’s addition of journeyman defensive tackle Zach Kerr should help matters a good deal.

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Generated 3/23/2021.

Kerr, 30 years old, also managed 19 quarterback pressures last season for the Carolina Panthers. Getting some additional pass-rushing prowess from a player who’d otherwise be featured normally on base downs against offensive run formations is always a bonus.

How Zach Kerr fits into 49ers D-line depth chart

Jones is back on a one-year deal but coming off consecutive seasons where he’s dealt with ankle injuries.

In 2019, Jones was limited to 11 regular-season games before suffering a season-ending ankle sprain, and then similar injuries sidelined him to just 14 games played last year. So it’s entirely possible San Francisco is guarding against Jones suffering a similar injury this season, bringing aboard a polished veteran who offers a similar skill set in terms of defending against the run while offering up something of an interior pass rush.

The 49ers do have another depth piece at nose tackle, Kevin Givens, who shined in Jones’ absence for much of 2020.

Whether or not Kerr’s addition is a sign the Niners aren’t totally convinced Givens is on the ascent is yet to be determined, but it’s just as possible San Francisco wants to spark some competition here while at least adding to some interior D-line depth.

Kerr, 6-foot-2 and 334-pounds, fits the bill for the squatty 1-technique the 49ers have employed since 2017. And with the Niners having shifted to a wide-9 base alignment the last two years, finding someone who can occupy as much space in the middle as possible against interior runs can be just as crucial, too.

Typically, however, teams only carry two nose tackle-type players, although finding some rotational pieces who can double at various spots along the D-line can be a smart approach. It’s likely we’ll figure out more of what San Francisco’s plans are with Kerr once training camp rolls around, particularly which units he lines up with, defensive pairings and one-on-one matchups, etc.

Still, with the 49ers’ D-line predominantly a young one, getting some veteran presence with a player who has been around the league for a while should help matters a good deal.