Kevin Givens

Career StatsC-

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		70	8.0	93	20.5
2025		5	0.0	2	0
2024		8	3.5	11	2
2023		17

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The C- Contract Value Index on Kevin Givens' deal stems from how the cap hit lines up against on-field output. At $2.05M AAV on a one-year deal, the 49ers are paying a modest depth rate for a defensive tackle—but "modest" doesn't redeem limited availability and production. Givens logged just 2 tackles across 5 games in the 2025 season, a stat line that reflects the durability red flags that have haunted his tenure; when a seven-year veteran is spending stretches on injured reserve rather than accumulating snaps, the organization's framing of him as rotation depth rather than a cornerstone becomes the only rational cap allocation. At 29 years old and in his seventh professional season, Givens is squarely in the replacement-level tier, a player whose familiarity within the system no longer offsets the injury risk and negligible statistical impact that have defined his recent campaigns. The single-year structure offers the 49ers an exit ramp without dead-cap complications, but it also signals zero long-term confidence in his role—the organization's recent offseason activity, concentrated on backfield additions and defensive secondary reinforcements, confirms that Givens occupies a depth slot unlikely to expand. His CVI grade reflects the hard truth: you're paying a backup's rate for a backup's availability and output, which is defensible cap management but hardly a value proposition worth celebrating heading into 2026.

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 Kevin's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Kevin Givens is a six-year veteran defensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers who has appeared in 70 career games with a known skill for interior pass rush. The 29-year-old has carved out a reliable role along San Francisco's defensive line, though his current season performance grades at C-, reflecting inconsistency that contradicts his stronger career body of work. Among starting-caliber interior linemen, Givens remains a rotational force rather than an elite anchor, positioned as a depth piece in a rotation-heavy scheme. What stands out in Givens' 2025 tape is his elite sack production at 0.44 per game, significantly outpacing the NFL average of 0.14 and matching the 0.42 elite threshold for the position. His 0.75 quarterback hits per game also exceed the league average of 0.29, signaling consistent pressure generation in the trenches. However, his tackle volume of 1.38 per game falls below the NFL average of 1.82, and his 0.25 tackles for loss per game sits marginally below the 0.27 average, exposing a gap between pass-rush impact and run-defense assignment completion. Givens' trajectory has declined noticeably, dropping from a C+ in 2024 to a D in 2023, with this season's underwhelming grade suggesting he's stabilizing rather than improving. At 29 and in his sixth season, his ceiling as a complementary pass rusher is largely defined, making him valuable primarily as a situational disruptor. The key question entering next offseason is whether his elite sack rate proves sustainable or represents an outlier within a declining career arc.

How Kevin Compares at the Position

Kevin Givens ranks 120th of 217 graded defensive tackles by performance. That slots Kevin between Haggai Ndubuisi (C-) just ahead and Darius Alexander (C-) just behind.

Fan Sentiment

49ers bring back a familiar depth piece on a low-risk contract. Five headlines confirm this is routine roster maintenance, not a splash acquisition. Givens offers proven familiarity with San Francisco's defensive system and scheme. Fans view this as a safe, uninspiring move addressing depth concerns. Expect Givens in a rotational role competing for snaps along the line.