Predicting 49ers defensive line depth chart after 2022 NFL Draft

49ers defensive line predictions: The backups

Defensive ends: Kemoko Turay, Drake Jackson, Jordan Willis

Defensive tackles: Kerry Hyder Jr., Maurice Hurst, Hassan Ridgeway

Alright, we’ve tabbed six more defensive linemen to round out the rest of the regular-season depth chart, and there are some notable departures from the 53-man roster.

More on that in a second, but Drake Jackson is obviously going to fall into this category after not quite cutting it as an every-down player. At least to start the season. Perhaps that changes a few weeks into the year.

Teams can never have too many pass-rushers, which is why Jordan Willis, Kerry Hyder and Kemoko Turay all make the cut with relative ease. Willis has 5.5 sacks over 17 career games with San Francisco, so it appears as if he’s found a nice little niche role with the team ever since midway through 2020.

And the 49ers can hope Kerry Hyder, their leading sack specialist from that same year who spent 2021 with the Seattle Seahawks, can fill the void left by now-Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Arden Key.

Meanwhile, the Niners owe the versatile Hassan Ridgeway $1.8 million on a one-year deal this season, according to Over the Cap, and $1 million of that would be dead money if he’s cut.

Simply put, barring injury, Ridgeway isn’t going anywhere.

This would mean, of course, players like Charles Omenihu, Kevin Givens and Dee Ford won’t be hanging onto a 53-man roster spot come Week 1.