Going back through the various roster-bubble pieces leading up to the San Francisco 49ers' exhibition opener against the Denver Broncos last Saturday, there's prett much nothing that'd leave a positive endorsement of defensive lineman Sebastian Valdez other than he was a mere camp body with the longest of long odds to hang around into the regular season.
Well, that was the wrong conclusion.
The 6-foot-3 and 255-pound undrafted rookie lineman certainly made a statement in an otherwise forgettable preseason affair for the Niners, wreaking havoc on the interior of Denver's offensive line and finishing the night with four tackles, one of which was for a loss, half a sack and a quarterback hit.
Not bad for the Washington UDFA who was seen as little more than a post-2025 NFL Draft afterthought addition.
While there's still a long way to go, the first-year pro whose name is hardly recognizable to casual fans might have just telegraphed himself into serious consideration for a spot on the 53-man roster.
Sebastian Valdez made serious claim for a spot on 49ers' 53-man roster
OK, so it's just one preseason game, and Valdez primarily worked against the Broncos' second- and third-string units for the bulk of Saturday's affair.
That said, he garnered plenty of recognition, both from social media and even from the coaching staff.
After the game, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters, "I’d say he flashed the most today. You noticed him out there. He’s been flashing a lot in practice. He’s been a problem in 1-on-1s, and it looked like he played the run real well today."
Even the Niners' social media team jumped aboard the rookie's hype:
San Francisco's offseason efforts to revamp the defensive line garnered plenty of headlines, but those mainly focused on the rookie draftees: Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins and C.J. West, the latter also impressing during his NFL debut.
That said, Valdez might have made the most unexpected of statements on Saturday night, and he might be too good an option for the 49ers to pass up for a roster spot when it becomes time to decide the 53-man roster.