The San Francisco 49ers officially pulled the plug on defensive tackle Evan Anderson, clearing some space on their D-line roster. Anderson had actually shown a bit of spark as an undrafted rookie free agent back in 2024, but with the additions of Alfred Collins and CJ West, his playing time was definitely gonna be tough to find.
Why Anderson Was Outta There
Let’s be real, Anderson, listed at 6’3″ and a hefty 326 pounds, just didn’t have the kind of range in the running game that Collins and West bring to the table. You combine that with a pretty clear lack of pass rush, and yeah, the writing was on the wall for the guy. The Niners are definitely looking at their undrafted free agent rookies from this class to see if any can make the roster. Keep an eye out for Bryson Eason from the University of Tennessee, who’s 6’3″ and 315 pounds. Then there’s James Thompson Jr., a massive 6’6″, 308-pounder from Illinois.
Fresh Blood and a Familiar Face Roll In
But it wasn’t just exits. The team also announced they’re bringing back a very familiar face in Kevin Givens. He just signed a one-year deal. Givens first joined the Niners way back in 2019 as an undrafted free agent and has basically been with them for the previous seven seasons. So yeah, he knows the locker room. The kicker though? The word on the street is Givens is “more than likely a training camp body.” Ouch. That’s a tough label for a guy who’s been around for seven years.
So, the 49ers are definitely doing some shuffling on their defensive line, bringing in fresh undrafted talent and rolling the dice on a veteran to fill out camp. It looks like they are serious about competition on that D-line.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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