The 49ers are returning a familiar face as ESPN’s Field Yates reported Thursday morning that San Francisco is signing Kerry Hyder to a one-year, $1.5 million deal.
Hyder receives $750,000 in guaranteed money and $750,000 in termination incentives. Haider is not a castle to be listed based on this guaranteed money. Hyder, who turns 31 in May, had a disappointing season with the Seahawks last season when he finished with 1.5 sacks and just five tackles to lose. In 2020 with the Niners, Hyder had 11 tackles to lose and 8.5 sacks, marking a career year for him.
The 49ers are hoping they get a 2020 version of Hyder that filled the stats table, but I walked away thinking they were better off without him in 2021. Though that might not be fair to Haider given the difference in talent between both defenders. lines every year, San Francisco became sportier without Hyder and didn’t allow teams to go beyond them as a result.
In Week 17 of 2020, the 49ers introduced Hyder, Darrion Daniels, Alex Barrett and Kentavious Street as part of their defensive line rotation. Needless to say, Hyder has been the team’s best option for most of the season.
That won’t happen in 2022, so it’s easy to be optimistic that Haider will be a better, more productive and efficient player with the Niners this time around.
Now the 49ers have Nick Boza, Samson Ebukam, Charles Omenihu and Jordan Willis ready to go with Hyder and Dee Ford’s ghost. We’ll see if the team finalizes adding wingers through free agency or a draft, but their commitment to Hyder based on his contract is nothing like that.