
#94 DE · San Francisco 49ers
Height
6'5"
Weight
265 lbs
Age
28
College
Penn State
Draft
2020, Rd 2, #38
Experience
6 yrs
DE Rank
#62 / 161
Grade this player:
| Year | Team | GP | Sacks | Tkl | TFL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | ![]() | 74 | 17.0 | 169 | 28 |
| 2025 | ![]() | 8 | 0.0 | 8 | 1 |
| 2024 | ![]() | 11 | 4.0 | 19 | 5.5 |
| 2023 | ![]() | 12 |
AAV
$795K/yr
The 49ers pulled off a highway robbery by securing Yetur Gross-matos at just $0.8M AAV, earning an A+ CVI that represents one of the best value signings of the cycle. Getting a rotational defensive end who can contribute meaningful snaps at near-minimum salary is exactly the type of shrewd roster building that championship contenders execute. Gross-matos brings legitimate NFL experience and pass rush ability at a price point that carries virtually zero downside risk, allowing San Francisco to allocate their cap space toward premium positions while still adding legitimate depth. The financial structure here is so team-friendly that even if Gross-matos only provides spot duty and special teams value, the deal pays for itself. This signing exemplifies how smart front offices maximize every dollar — the 49ers get a proven rotational piece who could easily outperform his contract while maintaining complete roster flexibility moving forward.
Yetur Gross-Matos enters his sixth NFL season as a rotational edge rusher who has never fully translated his 2020 second-round pedigree into consistent production. Across 74 career games, he has flashed the athleticism that made him a prospect, but has never emerged as a reliable starter. His current D+ grade reflects a troubling 2025 campaign that threatens to define — rather than redirect — his career arc. The numbers tell a concerning story this season. Gross-Matos is generating tackles for loss at just 0.13 per game, less than half the NFL average of 0.30 and a fraction of the 0.58 rate elite edge defenders post. His season grade has deteriorated sharply, sliding from a C+ in 2024 to a C- in 2023, then collapsing to an F in 2025 — a three-year downward arc that signals diminishing impact rather than natural variance. At 28, Gross-Matos is entering the window where rotational pass rushers either carve out lasting roles or fade from rosters entirely. San Francisco's defensive system demands consistent backfield disruption, and he is not currently delivering it. Unless his TFL rate rebounds meaningfully, his path to a roster spot beyond this season grows increasingly narrow. --- **Word count check:** Let me recount... that's approximately 185 words — slightly under. Let me expand slightly. At 28, Gross-Matos is entering the window where edge rushers either establish durable roles or fade from rosters entirely. San Francisco's system demands consistent backfield disruption, and he has not delivered it this season. A meaningful rebound in his pressure and TFL rates in the second half would be the clearest sign his career still has runway left.
Yetur Gross-Matos enters the 2026 offseason as one of the more uncertain roster decisions facing the San Francisco 49ers, with his future in the organization genuinely in question following a season disrupted by an injured reserve stint. The headline framing around him has been notably cautious, with analysts openly debating whether the 49ers should bother re-signing him in free agency — a conversation that signals limited organizational leverage and diminishing confidence in his upside. A 'running out of time' narrative has taken hold in local and national coverage, reflecting the reality that six NFL seasons and 17 career sacks on a near-minimum contract represent a career that has plateaued well below early expectations as a former second-round pick. His activation from IR late in the season provided a brief moment of relevance, but it did little to shift the broader perception that he is a depth piece fighting for roster survival rather than a contributor with a defined role. Heading into 2026, Gross-Matos faces a pivotal offseason in which he must either secure a contract that signals genuine team interest or risk fading out of the league entirely, with media sentiment currently offering him little benefit of the doubt.
No transactions found for this player.
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| 4.5 |
| 36 |
| 4 |
| 2022 | ![]() | 17 | 2.5 | 54 | 6 |
| 2021 | ![]() | 14 | 3.5 | 28 | 8.5 |
| 2020 | ![]() | 12 | 2.5 | 24 | 3 |
Updated Mar 19, 2026
Recent seasons are weighted more heavily in the overall performance grade.
F
2025
(50% weight)
C+
2024
(30% weight)
C-
2023
(20% weight)