The 49ers on Monday added depth to their defensive line during their second wave of offseason moves. They’re set to add former Cowboys and Lions defensive end Kerry Hyder according to multiple reports.
Hyder is familiar with 49ers defensive line coach Kris Kocurek from the two seasons they were together in Detroit. He had his best season under Kocurek in 2016 when he posted 8.0 of his 10.0 career sacks.
The Jets signed Hyder as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He eventually made his way to Detroit where he played 17 games with two starts across 2015 and 2016. His second year with the Lions was his best. He had 36 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 19 quarterback hits to go along with his 8.0 sacks.
His 2017 campaign was cut short by an Achilles tear during the preseason, and he was unable to recapture his form from his breakout season when he returned for the 2018 campaign. He played six games for the Lions that year with just 1.0 sacks and one tackle for loss.
The Cowboys picked him up before the 2019 season, and Hyder carved out a regular spot in the defensive line rotation. He notched 27 total pressures and 2.0 sacks according to Pro Football Focus while playing about 41 percent of the defensive snaps.
While the 49ers could use some substantial help to make up for the loss of DeForest Buckner on the interior, Hyder should compete right away for a regular rotation spot to help shore up a 49ers’ pass rush that was among the best in the league last season.