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

William Bradley-King is a 28-year-old rookie defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers still establishing himself after four career games. His early performance grades a C overall, reflecting the inconsistency typical of developmental pass-rushers breaking into the league. Through limited snaps, he's shown flashes but hasn't yet demonstrated the consistent impact required to crack a competitive 49ers defensive rotation regularly. Bradley-King's primary strength lies in his motor and pursuit—he's averaging 0.50 QB hits per game, which exceeds the NFL average of 0.43, suggesting he's making his presence felt in limited opportunities. However, four games provides an extremely small sample; elite edge rushers operate at 1.42 hits per game or higher. His trajectory shows modest decline from a C grade last season to a C-minus this year, signaling the adjustment period common among older rookies who lack collegiate tape volume or draft investment. The concerning trend is his inability to consistently translate effort into disruptive plays, particularly against starting-caliber offensive lines. Functionally, Bradley-King appears to lack elite first-step quickness or refined counter moves that separate productive NFL edge rushers from developmental camp bodies. His size and effort are assets, but technical deficiencies in pad level and hand placement have limited his ceiling significantly. Looking ahead, Bradley-King needs substantial improvement to justify regular snap counts beyond situational pass-rush packages. If he can develop more polished technique and string together consecutive productive games, a bump to C-plus or solid B-minus territory remains possible. The 49ers' competitive timeline means patience is limited; he must demonstrate clear progression within the next 1-2 seasons or risk becoming a depth casualty.

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

Bradley-King signing represents typical camp body depth addition for San Francisco's defensive line. Media coverage frames him as fringe prospect needing to earn roster spot competitively. His ranking at No. 75 on 49ers roster suggests marginal organizational confidence in immediate impact. Fans view this as low-risk, low-reward move aimed at training camp competition and evaluation. Expect Bradley-King to compete for practice squad consideration rather than crack the 53-man roster.