NFL free agency: Grading 49ers, other NFC West moves in 2021

Seattle Seahawks

Key NFL free agency additions: TE Gerald Everett, CB Ahkello Witherspoon, DE Kerry Hyder

As has happened a lot in the NFC West, the Seahawks purged a couple of former 49ers players for their 2021 roster, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and the Niners’ sack leader last year, defensive end Kerry Hyder.

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Inking Hyder to a two-year, $17.5 million deal is a lot, considering he’s coming off a career-high 8.5 sacks and only had anywhere near that many just once, 2016, over his lengthy NFL tenure. But the Seahawks needed to bolster their pass rush badly during the offseason.

Retaining defensive tackle Carlos Dunlap was absolutely the right move, but the lack of speed on Seattle’s defensive line is concerning.

Acquiring offensive guard Gabe Jackson from the Las Vegas Raiders hopefully helps ease the pressure on quarterback Russell Wilson, but it’s not enough. The Seahawks O-line is still bad.

Wilson getting Gerald Everett from the Rams helps matters a lot, considering Wilson has a long history of making unknown tight ends into productive pass-catchers. Everett, who was overshadowed by other offensive weapons in Los Angeles, could potentially shine with his new team.

Yet the focus will still be on the defense, which aside from retaining Dunlap and banking on those two former 49ers players, could be notably deficient in 2021. Particularly after losing cornerback Shaquill Griffin to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Removing Jackson’s pickup from the grading criteria, since it was a trade, it’s hard to be impressed with Seattle’s free-agent moves.