49ers roster: 5 players who won’t be back in 2022

Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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Zach Kerr, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Zach Kerr (92) Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3: 49ers Defensive Tackle Zach Kerr

Remember during the offseason and even preseason when journeyman nose tackle Zach Kerr was appearing to be one of those hidden free-agent signings who’d go on to play a pivotal role in San Francisco’s defensive line rotation?

Well, so much for that coming to fruition.

Kerr is third in a three-man pecking order at nose tackle, finding himself buried on the depth chart behind the starter, D.J. Jones, and his primary backup, Kevin Givens. And while Jones is a pending free agent in 2022 after returning on his own one-year deal, one might guess the 49ers would highly prioritize retaining Jones rather than worrying about re-signing Kerr, who has logged a mere three tackles over three games played this season while seeing just 22 percent of all defensive snaps.

The rest of the time? Inactive.

If not Jones in 2022, Givens probably assumes a bigger role. And for those thinking Kerr ends up being a re-sign priority, run-stopping 1-technique nose tackles are pretty easy to find on the open market.

The Niners won’t make Kerr a priority.