One of the 49ers’ biggest strengths on defense going into 2020 will be their continuity on that side of the ball. Assuming everyone is healthy, San Francisco will only be replacing one defensive starter from last year. Change could come lower on the depth chart though while the club aims to bolster its depth.
Here are five members of the 90-man roster who aren’t getting a ton of shine heading into camp, but could wind up being a factor on the 53-man roster:
CB Teez Tabor
Tabor’s tenure in Detroit couldn’t have gone much worse. The 2017 second-round pick played in 22 games with five starts before getting cut prior to last season. Tabor in 317 coverage snaps allowed 32 completions on 44 attempts, 464 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions and only one pass breakup according to Pro Football Focus. He played in a man-heavy scheme in Detroit though. His skill set may translate better in a zone-heavy defense like San Francisco’s. Tabor isn’t in danger of earning a starting job, but he could take advantage of a thin cornerback group to revive his career and make the 53-man roster.
DE Kerry Hyder
Perhaps Hyder isn’t necessarily getting overlooked for a roster spot, but he has a legitimate chance to be a contributor for the 49ers’ pass rush in 2020. He was good last year in a rotational role for the Cowboys, notching 2.0 sacks and 27 pressures on 289 pass rush snaps according to PFF. His best season though came in 2016 with Detroit when he played in under defensive line coach Kris Kocurek, who’s now with the 49ers. Hyder that season had a career-best 55 pressures and 8.0 sacks in 440 pass rush snaps. While he’d be behind Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, Arik Armstead and Ronald Blair, Hyder could still have an important role in giving the 49ers added depth in an already relentless pass rush.
S Jared Mayden
While Mayden wasn’t particularly stellar in Alabama’s defense, he was tasked with a variety of roles that point to him being an asset on an NFL roster. He’s not likely to carve out a starting safety spot either this year or in the future, but his vast experience makes him an intriguing option that can work out at multiple spots while the team figures out the place that suits his skill set best. Special teams work is probably going to be Mayden’s primary job for the foreseeable future. Contributions on special tams and potential as a project defensive back could be enough to land the undrafted rookie a roster spot.
CB DeMarkus Acy
Acy checks a lot of boxes for the 49ers at cornerback, including hist 6-2, 195-pound frame. He wasn’t a combine invite and the COVID-19 pandemic forced Missouri’s Pro Day to get shut down which may have impacted Acy’s draft stock some, but he’s a good athlete who racked up three interceptions and 20 pass breakups for the Tigers. He’s also not afraid to stick his nose in and be a physical tackler. There’s a chance Acy gets moved back to safety while the 49ers try to figure out their future at that spot, but they’re thin at corner too, so Acy will have a real shot to compete there as well. If he can play special teams and work his way into a reserve cornerback role, the undrafted rookie could wind up being a factor in 2020 and beyond.
LB Jonas Griffith
Griffith is another undrafted rookie who can’t go overlooked. He’s a big linebacker at 6-4, 250 pounds, and he produced like crazy at Indiana State. He posted over 100 tackles in each of his last three seasons and racked up 49 tackles for loss and 13 sacks in that same span. There’s a path for him to be an effective special teams player right away. His ceiling could be higher though in a linebacking corps that isn’t very deep after its three starters. If Griffith can jump up the depth chart and be the fourth or fifth-best linebacker in camp while also chipping in on kick coverages, there’s a roster spot waiting for him in Year 1.
