C.j. West

Career StatsD

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		14	1.0	21	2
2025		14	1.0	21	2

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The 49ers struck gold with C.J. West's four-year, $5.2M extension, a deal that earns a B+ CVI and represents exceptional value for a proven rotational defensive tackle. At just $1.3M annually, San Francisco is paying backup money for a player who's established himself as a reliable contributor in their defensive line rotation, offering both run-stopping ability and interior pass rush when called upon. The contract structure is team-friendly with only $1.0M guaranteed, giving the 49ers flexibility while still providing West with solid security for a rotational player. West's production tier as a rotational contributor perfectly aligns with his salary slot, but the modest annual value creates immediate surplus value that could pay dividends if he continues developing or if injuries thrust him into a larger role. This is exactly the type of shrewd depth signing that allows championship contenders like San Francisco to maintain their defensive line quality without breaking the bank, securing a known commodity at a price point that leaves room for growth.

Performance Analysis

At 23 years old and one season into his NFL career, C.J. West profiles as a below-average interior presence at this stage — a fourth-round developmental piece whose production has yet to match the physical upside that convinced San Francisco to spend draft capital on him at pick 113. His lone sack across 14 games is the single most meaningful item on his statistical resume, and it came on a nationally televised Monday Night Football stage against the Colts, which at least gave evaluators a legitimate highlight to anchor optimism around his pass-rush ceiling. The problem is that one sack in 14 games from a defensive tackle is a thin return, and 21 tackles over that same stretch signals a player who has yet to consistently impose himself against interior run schemes — that production level falls squarely in the roster-depth tier, not starter conversation. West has been available and durable enough to see meaningful reps across most of the season, which matters for a young player still learning the professional game, but availability without production only carries so much weight when you're competing for snaps on a 12-5 playoff team. That said, the media framing around him is genuinely constructive — the "biggest jump of his career" narrative heading into 2026 reflects internal organizational trust, and the fact that his preseason struggles against Denver were characterized as humbling rather than disqualifying suggests the coaching staff views him as a coachable, ascending talent. With 129 days until the regular season opens, West enters his second year as one of the more intriguing developmental bets on this defensive line — not a name you're building around yet, but firmly worth monitoring as the offseason workload ramps up.

Current Sentiment

C.J. West enters his second NFL season as one of the more intriguing developmental interior pass-rushers on the San Francisco 49ers' roster, generating a modest but genuine buzz among beat reporters and the team's fanbase. His Monday Night Football sack against the Colts served as a breakout moment that gave analysts a tangible highlight to anchor optimism around his upside. The recurring 'biggest jump of his career' narrative in recent coverage reflects a player who has earned internal trust within the organization, even if his statistical footprint remains limited at this stage. West's preseason humbling against Denver was framed constructively rather than as a red flag, suggesting the media perceives him as a coachable, ascending talent rather than a roster bubble concern. Heading into 2026, he occupies the promising-depth-piece tier — not yet a household name, but firmly on the radar of fantasy analysts and 49ers faithful who follow the defensive line closely.