Last preseason, a relatively unknown defensive end by the name of Sebastian Valdez earned enough adoration from San Francisco 49ers fans during the preseason to spark hopes of a spot on the 53-man roster.
Logging six tackles and half a sack during the 2025 exhibition phase, it seemed as if Valdez had a legitimate shot to crack the back end of the roster.
Alas, though, the Niners waived the undrafted rookie as part of final roster cuts, ultimately naming him to their practice squad. And while he was elevated to the regular-season roster several times during the season, he never got onto the field.
Perhaps that changes in 2026, though.
49ers made plenty of D-line changes this offseason
It's easy to see why Valdez had little chance of surviving cuts a year ago. Despite his promising efforts, San Francisco boasted a trio of upper-echelon defensive ends in Nick Bosa, Bryce Huff and then-rookie Mykel Williams, backed up by other veterans like Sam Okuayinonu.
Now, though, both Bosa and Williams are working their way back from torn ACLs suffered a season ago, and Huff suddenly retired during the offseason. True, the 49ers onboarded rookie edge defender Romello Height, but it's wholly unclear whether or not the first-year pro will produce at a desired level.
That leaves room for Valdez to make a leap.
Sebastian Valdez is a name to watch during 49ers camp, the preseason
Some argue players make their biggest leaps between years one and two, and Valdez at least sticking around with the Niners in some capacity over his rookie season carries some weight. Consistency matters, particularly in working with defensive line coach Kris Kocurek.
The 6-foot-3 defender even impressed head coach Kyle Shanahan a year ago, and that's a good jumping-off point despite not originally making the cut his rookie season.
With San Francisco historically putting rookies at the bottom of the depth chart entering camp, combined with both Bosa and Williams still recovering, Valdez has a shot to work with both the first- and second-string units early in practices. This should give him more reps, allowing him to impress the coaching staff.
Combined with a hopeful showing of strength in the preseason, Valdez easily has his best shot yet at securing a long-term spot on the 53-man roster.
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