William Bradley-King

Career StatsC

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		4	0.5	7	1
2025		2	0.0	2	0
2024		3	0.0	4	0
2023		3

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

William Bradley-King delivered the kind of production that earns a B- Contract Value Index relative to the DE pay band. At $1.005M AAV, he's operating well below the market rate for even rotational edge rushers, which provides immediate salary flexibility for San Francisco—a critical asset given the 49ers' ongoing roster churn and the competitive depth chart at defensive end. His 2025 season output of 2 tackles across 2 games sits squarely in replacement-level territory, consistent with his C performance grade and the media's characterization of him as administrative depth rather than a strategic contributor. As a 28-year-old fifth-year veteran drafted in the seventh round, Bradley-King is not a developing prospect with upside; he's a journeyman edge presence, and the contract reflects that reality—it's priced accordingly for a player occupying a reserve roster slot with minimal production history to justify elevation. The real value here lies in the salary relief: at this price point, the 49ers absorb zero financial risk while maintaining positional depth as they navigate recent roster moves across the offensive and defensive lines. His path forward depends entirely on distinguishing himself in training camp and preseason, but the muted sentiment and recent signing of other defensive linemen signal that San Francisco views this as low-stakes depth maintenance, not a competitive bet on late-career resurgence.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

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

Performance Analysis

How William Bradley-King plays at DE earns him a C performance grade. The 7th-round 2021 draft pick has carved out a replacement-level presence along San Francisco's defensive line, posting 2 tackles across 2 games in the 2025 season—a counting stat that underscores his minimal snap share and limited offensive impact at a position where disruptive edge play defines starter-caliber production. His strength lies in his preseason familiarity with the 49ers' defensive system, which earned him a practice squad opportunity and kept him on the roster following his brief appearances, but that institutional knowledge has not yet translated into consistent game-day contributions. The critical weakness is production scarcity: with just a half-sack through his first professional season and now sitting at 2 tackles through his most recent action, Bradley-King operates as depth insurance rather than a rotational competitor. At 28 years old and in his fifth professional season, he occupies the profile of a career reserve—a fifth or sixth option along the defensive front without the snap counts or output to suggest upward trajectory. The media framing confirms this tier: outlets have treated his signing as administrative housekeeping, bundling the news alongside other roster moves with no standalone credibility, and the D+ sentiment grade reflects collective indifference rather than optimism heading into the 2026 season. For Bradley-King to meaningfully impact the 49ers' defensive line rotation, he would need a breakthrough-level training camp and preseason, but the current evidence points toward another year in a depth role where volume constraints and spotty production define his NFL shelf.

How William Compares at the Position

William Bradley-King ranks 73rd of 147 graded defensive ends by performance. That slots William between Sebastian Joseph-Day (C) just ahead and Earnest Brown Iv (C) just behind.

Fan Sentiment

William Bradley-King's arrival in San Francisco has landed with a near-total absence of buzz, and the D+ sentiment grade captures that collective shrug precisely. Multiple outlets treated his practice squad signing as administrative housekeeping, consistently bundling the news alongside the Shilo Sanders workout story rather than granting it any standalone weight — the clearest sign that the media views this as a depth chart footnote, not a strategic addition. That muted coverage aligns directly with his on-field production, which sits at a D- performance grade; his 2025 season log of 2 tackles across 2 games paints the picture of a replacement-level edge rusher who occupies a roster spot rather than competes for one. The one thread of genuine, if modest, credibility is his preseason familiarity with San Francisco's defensive system, but even that connection has failed to move the needle with analysts or fans who rightly categorize this as routine roster maintenance. Meanwhile, the 49ers' recent offseason activity — notably the addition of Trent Williams and a series of lower-profile signings — signals a front office operating on multiple fronts, which only further reduces the oxygen available for Bradley-King's story. The narrative here is one of indifference rather than criticism, which in its own way is telling: when a signing doesn't generate either optimism or backlash, it's a strong signal that the fanbase and media see emergency depth and nothing more.