49ers 2021 ‘Who is?’ series: Alex Barrett a valuable depth piece

The 49ers seem to like defensive end Alex Barrett for a depth commodity, and that’s the role they hope he plays over the course of 2021.

The San Francisco 49ers were forced to play reserve defensive end Alex Barrett much more than they would have preferred in 2020.

But when the Niners went through all those injuries, ultimately becoming the most injured team in all of last season, players like Barrett had no other choice but to see a significant chunk of field time.

True, 12 percent of defensive snaps doesn’t seem like a lot. Considering Barrett was previously on the fringes of the roster anyway beforehand yet still managed to hang around through the season while San Francisco was constantly shuffling other defensive linemen off and on the roster, that says something.

Barrett, a 2017 undrafted free-agent addition of the Detroit Lions, had the advantage of working under current 49ers D-line coach Kris Kocurek back with Detroit, seeing action in two games his rookie year and recording a tackle.

From that point through 2020, though, Barrett was a perennial practice squad player who ultimately landed on the Niners’ own reserve unit late in 2019 before eventually being a regular promotee from the practice squad a year ago.

In total, Barrett saw action in seven games for San Francisco last season, registering five tackles and two quarterback hits.

Is it possible Barrett has now found something of a long-term home with the 49ers?

Why Alex Barrett improves with 49ers in 2021

Barrett, 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, is something of a tweener for a true 4-3 defensive end. The former San Diego State standout flashed some promise during his rookie preseason, mainly using his speed to make up for his lack of size.

The Niners’ offseason D-line moves seemed to emphasize speed, so it would appear the focus would be to give players like Barrett an increased chance to make an impact.

Kocurek seems to appreciate Barrett, too. And while Barrett is little more than a situational pass-rusher, his five quarterback hurries in limited action last season suggest the 27 year old could carve out a niche role for himself in 2020.

Why Alex Barrett regresses with 49ers in 2021

In his limited chances, and as part of his collegiate scouting reports, Barrett has never been a good run stopper, and it’s pretty clear how much the lack of size limits him on the field.

On top of that, Barrett’s overall usage could easily decrease this season with the hopefully healthy return of EDGE Nick Bosa and the free-agent addition of another speed rusher, Samson Ebukam, who’ll both push down the snap counts for reserve defensive linemen like Barrett.

And that’s still contingent upon whether or not he even makes the 53-man roster.

Chances Alex Barrett makes 49ers’ 53-man roster

There’s no questioning Barrett is squarely on the roster bubble heading towards training camp.

Barrett will be an exclusive-rights free agent in 2022 and is back on a 2021 contract worth up to $780,000 but with zero in guaranteed money, meaning he’d be an easy roster subtraction without any dead money if he fails to make the cut.

On the positive side, though, San Francisco has a good deal of control over the next two years of his future should it want to retain him in a reserve role.

Yet the challenges Barrett will face this season include trying to win out in camp/preseason competitions with other reserve defensive ends like Jordan Willis, Arden Key and Kentavius Street. Barrett will likely have to beat out at least two of those names to stand a chance of hanging around. But given how Key flamed out with injuries with the Las Vegas Raiders and Street hasn’t exactly worked out well at the NFL level, Barrett does have a strong outsider’s chance.

If he does make the roster, it seems likely Barrett would be pegged for a regular weekly inactive as a reserve player to guard against injuries.

Still, as last year showed, having those kinds of players can be vital, and Barrett made a good showing in 2020 despite his limited role.

Perhaps that’s the indicator heading into 2021.