Keion White

Career StatsC+

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		47	7.5	100	11.5
2025		14	1.5	18	2
2024		17	5.0	56	6.5
2023		16

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Spotrac flags Keion White's contract as a market-rate deal; FanVerdicts grades it C+ Contract Value Index because the production-to-pay ratio shakes out accordingly. At $1.95M AAV on a four-year rookie scale deal, White is being compensated at a level befitting a second-round pick, but his on-field returns have not justified even that modest investment: across the 2025 season, he posted 18 tackles and 1.5 sacks over 14 games, replacement-level production that leaves him with just 7.5 career sacks through three seasons. For a defensive end, that output falls well short of the pass-rush consistency you'd expect from a high-draft-capital player, and it's why the CVI reflects a break-even arrangement rather than a bargain. The injury complications documented in recent headlines—a gunshot wound to the ankle requiring surgery—introduce material risk to his availability and mobility going forward, adding another layer of uncertainty to what was already a disappointing trajectory for a third-year player. As San Francisco has already moved on (evidenced by recent roster moves focused on depth evaluation rather than defensive-line reinforcement around White), the narrative heading into 2026 is decidedly cautious, with the burden of proof firmly on White to demonstrate a full recovery and establish himself as a reliable contributor—a steep climb given both the injury setback and his modest track record to date.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Keion's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Snap share and per-play impact line up to a C+ performance grade for Keion White. The 27-year-old defensive end is squarely in replacement-level territory as a pass rusher, having logged just 7.5 career sacks across three seasons with the 49ers — a production rate that fails to justify a featured role in any NFL defense. His 2025 season statistics tell the story plainly: 18 tackles and 1.5 sacks across 14 games represent modest contributions from a player who was drafted in the second round (2023, pick 46) with clear aspirations of becoming a franchise cornerstone. Beyond the on-field shortcomings, White now faces the dual hurdles of a gunshot wound to the ankle requiring surgery and a trade to New England that explicitly signals San Francisco no longer views him as core to their defensive future — compounding injuries and organizational abandonment rarely accelerate a player's recovery arc or market value. The timeline for his return to full mobility remains murky, and until he demonstrates both medical clearance and earned snaps in a defined role, the steep burden of proof rests entirely on him to validate why either organization should believe in a turnaround narrative.

How Keion Compares at the Position

Keion White ranks 61st of 147 graded defensive ends by performance. That slots Keion between Collin Oliver (C+) just ahead and Sam Williams (C+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Keion White enters 2026 as one of the most narratively battered players in the league, and the public perception surrounding him has settled firmly into skepticism with no near-term catalyst for improvement. The twin blows of being traded from San Francisco to New England — a move that broadcast loudly he was not central to the 49ers' defensive plans — and suffering a gunshot wound to the ankle requiring surgery have dominated the conversation around him, drowning out any discussion of his upside as a pass rusher. That pessimism is entirely consistent with his on-field track record: in the 2025 season, White posted 18 tackles and 1.5 sacks across 14 games, replacement-level production that left him with just 7.5 career sacks across three seasons and nothing close to a case for a larger role. Early analysis of the trade terms reinforced the narrative, with reports framing the cost to New England as minimal — industry shorthand for a market that has priced in serious risk around both his recovery timeline and his fit in the Patriots' scheme. Meanwhile, San Francisco has moved on decisively, re-signing franchise tackle Trent Williams and adding multiple depth pieces, signaling the organization is building forward without him. Until White can demonstrate full mobility post-surgery and carve out a defined role in New England's defense, the narrative will remain squarely in wait-and-see territory — and given the accumulation of setbacks, the burden of proof on him is steep.