5 surprising roster cuts 49ers may make after training camp

49ers surprise roster cut No. 3: Defensive end Kerry Hyder

Defensive end Kerry Hyder wasn’t supposed to be the 49ers’ top sack-getter in 2020, but his reunification with former Detroit Lions defensive line coach Kris Kocurek and in light of the Niners losing EDGE Nick Bosa to a season-ending ACL tear in Week 2 opened up the door for Hyder to boast a career-high 8.5 sacks that year.

So, after Hyder’s one-year absence with the Seattle Seahawks in 2021, he’s back for another go-around with San Francisco.

Yes, it would be great if Hyder somehow replicated that production from two years ago without the context of injuries to other players. But one of the main sticking points from 2020, aside from injuries, was just how slow the 49ers D-line was that season, Hyder included.

The Niners have focused heavily on speed rushers since that year, and the D-line is already deep anyway, particularly in light of offseason acquisitions like Kemoko Turay, Hassan Ridgeway and Drake Jackson, who’ll look to pair with Bosa for a one-two pass-rushing threat.

As is the case with Samson Ebukam, the D-line depth might simply be too much for Hyder to overcome. And while his dead-cap hit of $750,000 is substantial enough to say this won’t happen, there’s plenty of talent in competition with him for a reserve spot to make a roster cut plausible.