Each week leading up to the start of training camp, 49ers.com will assess the team's roster as we get closer to the season. In this installment of the 2024 roster breakdown, we will take a closer look at the defensive line and assess the recent changes to the unit.
Previous Installments: Quarterbacks | Offensive Line
The 49ers spent a majority of their free agency efforts reconstructing their defensive line, and San Francisco's front four will have a new look in the upcoming season.
The departures of defensive linemen Arik Armstead, Chase Young, Clelin Ferrell, Javon Kinlaw and Sebastian Joseph-Day also came with the signings of four new players at the beginning of the new league year. The team agreed to deals with Leonard Floyd, Yetur Gross-Matos, Jordan Elliott and acquired Maliek Collins in a trade with the Houston Texans.
Additionally, the team re-signed five-year veteran Kevin Givens to help reinforce the defensive line.
"The guys that were available, we competed hard to get them," head coach Kyle Shanahan said at the NFL Annual League Meeting. "Maliek, when he became available for that seventh-round pick, we thought that was huge. Yetur getting on the edge, Floyd on the edge, all the size in the middle, we feel real good about this group. We had a bunch of one-year guys and we knew we had to add a number of others... But when it was all said and done, we thought we've got a good group and (defensive line coach Kris Kocurek) is really excited about these guys."
San Francisco's D-line will enter the 2024 season ranked as the second-best unit in the league according to Pro Football Focus. Despite the position group's restructure over the offseason, PFF placed the 49ers defensive front just one spot behind the New York Jets, stating that "the star power from this (49ers) defensive line is too good to ignore."
Position Breakdown
- Evan Anderson – 1st Season
- Alex Barrett – 8th Season
- Robert Beal Jr. – 2nd Season
- Nick Bosa – 6th Season
- Shakel Brown – 2nd Season
- Austin Bryant – 6th Season
- Maliek Collins – 9th Season
- Kalia Davis – 3rd Season
- Jordan Elliott – 5th Season
- Leonard Floyd – 9th Season
- Kevin Givens – 6th Season
- Yetur Gross-Matos – 5th Season
- Javon Hargrave – 9th Season
- Drake Jackson – 3rd Season
- T.Y. McGill – 10th Season
- Sam Okuayinonu – 3rd Season
Defensive Line Breakdown
Anderson joins the 49ers as an undrafted free agent ahead of the 2024 season.
The defensive lineman appeared in 39 games over four seasons at Florida Atlantic (2020-23), registering 145 tackles, 20 tackles-for-loss, 7.0 sacks, two passes defended and three fumble recoveries. Last season, Anderson appeared in 12 games and registered 57 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.5 sacks, one pass defended and one forced fumble, earning Third-Team All-AAC honors.
Barrett is entering his eighth season in the NFL, and his sixth season with the 49ers. The defensive lineman originally entered the NFL by signing with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2017.
Barrett joined the 49ers practice squad during the 2019 season and saw his most action as a regular-season contributor in 2020. That season, he played in seven games, notching five tackles and two quarterback hits.
Beal Jr. is entering his second year in the NFL after being drafted in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the 49ers.
During his first season in The Bay, Beal Jr. recorded five total tackles, one tackle-for-loss, one QB hit and 1.0 sack.
Bosa is entering his sixth season in the NFL, originally drafted in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the 49ers. Throughout his five years in the league, the defensive lineman has earned four Pro Bowl selections, an AP First-Team All-Pro honor, was named the 2022 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year and also received the 2019 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.
In 2023, Bosa racked up 53 total tackles (16 tackles-for-loss), 10.5 sacks, 35 quarterback hits, four passes defended, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
"Nick is a special talent, everybody knows that," 49ers president of football operations and general manager John Lynch said. "You just turn on the tape, and the guy was made to play D-line. The way he moves, his hand use, how technical of a player he is, his athleticism, the ground he gains on his first steps, the quickness with the strength, the power and the speed, he's got it all."
Brown is entering his second season in the NFL, and his first season with the 49ers. The defensive lineman originally entered the NFL after signing with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2023.
The 49ers signed Brown to a one-year deal in May.
Bryant is entering his sixth year in the NFL, and his second with the 49ers. The defensive lineman was originally drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Throughout his four-year career with the Lions (2019-22), he has appeared in 33 games recording 65 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, 11 QB hits and 4.5 sacks. During the 2023 season, Bryant appeared in two games with the 49ers.
Collins is entering his ninth season in the NFL, and his first season with the 49ers. The defensive lineman was originally drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. San Francisco acquired Collins from the Texans in exchange for the first of the team's two 2024 seventh-round draft picks.
Throughout his eight-year career with the Cowboys (2016-19), Las Vegas Raiders (2020) and Houston Texans (2021-23), he has appeared in 119 games (112 starts) and registered 206 tackles, 46 tackles-for-loss, 25.5 sacks, one interception, four passes defensed, one forced fumble and six fumble recoveries. He has also started in five postseason contests and added eight tackles and 1.0 sack. In 2023 with Houston, Collins started all 16 games he appeared in and registered 41 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, 5.0 sacks and one pass defensed. His 41 tackles marked a career high, while his 5.0 sacks tied his career high.
Davis was the second of three sixth-round picks (220th overall) selected by the 49ers in the 2022 NFL Draft.
After suffering a torn ACL in 2021, the defensive lineman spent the majority of his rookie season on the team's Non-Football Injury List. During the 2023 season, Davis made three game appearances notching 1.0 sack.
Elliott is entering his fifth year in the NFL, and his first with the 49ers. The defensive lineman was originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Throughout his four-year career with the Browns, he has appeared in 66 games (35 starts) and registered 98 tackles, 5.0 sacks, eight tackles-for-loss and four passes defended. He has also appeared in three postseason contests with Cleveland, tallying two tackles and one pass defended. In 2023, Elliott appeared in 17 games registering 21 tackles, a career-high 2.5 sacks, three tackles-for-loss and one pass defended.
Floyd is entering his ninth year in the NFL, and his first with the 49ers. The defensive lineman was originally drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Throughout his eight-year career with the Bears (2016-19), Los Angeles Rams (2020-22) and Buffalo Bills (2023), he has appeared in 121 games (120 starts) and registered 370 tackles, 58.0 sacks, 63 tackles-for-loss, two interceptions, 14 passes defended, four forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries. He has also started in nine postseason contests and tallied 24 tackles, 5.0 sacks, five tackles-for-loss and one pass defended.
In 2023, Floyd appeared in 17 games for the Bills and registered 32 tackles, 10.5 sacks, nine tackles-for-loss, one forced fumble and one pass defended. His 10.5 sacks tied his career high.
"Floyd has efficiently registered 39.5 sacks since 2020, with at least nine each season," NFL analyst Bucky Brooks said. "Playing opposite Nick Bosa, the ninth-year pro should feast on one-on-one chances in obvious passing downs, resulting in more splash plays (sacks, tackles for loss and turnovers) for a defense that routinely plays at an elite level."
Givens originally entered the NFL after signing as an undrafted free agent with the 49ers in 2019.
Over his five seasons with San Francisco, Givens has played in 57 games (13 starts) and added 79 tackles, 4.5 sacks, three passes defended, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. He has also appeared in nine postseason games and tallied 12 tackles, one pass defended and two QB hits.
The 49ers re-signed Givens to a one-year deal in March.
Gross-Matos is entering his fifth year in the NFL, and his first with the 49ers. The defensive lineman was originally drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Throughout his four-year career with the Panthers, he has appeared in 55 games (32 starts) and registered 142 tackles, 13.0 sacks, 19 tackles-for-loss, one pass defended, two forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. In 2023, Gross-Matos appeared in 12 games for the Panthers and registered 36 tackles, a career-high 4.5 sacks and seven tackles-for-loss.
Hargrave was a newcomer to the 49ers last season after signing with the team in free agency, and he made an immediate impact on the interior of San Francisco's D-line. Hargrave was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Throughout his eight-year NFL career with the Steelers (2016-19), Philadelphia Eagles (2020-22) and 49ers (2023) the defensive lineman has appeared in 127 games (112 starts) and registered 373 tackles, 44.5 sacks, eight passes defended, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. Hargrave has also appeared in 11 postseason contests and added 32 tackles, 4.0 sacks and five QB hits.
Additionally, Hargrave is a two-time Pro Bowl recipient (2021, 2023).
"We think of him as one of the best interior guys in the league," Bosa said. "Especially rushing the passer. To have him on our side is a huge addition for us."
Jackson is entering third season in the NFL, originally drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the 49ers.
Throughout his two years in the league, the defensive lineman has appeared in 23 games recording 21 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, one interception, nine passes defended, 6.0 sacks and nine QB hits.
McGill originally entered the NFL after signing as an undrafted free agent with the Seattle Seahawks in 2015. Throughout his nine-year NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts (2015-2016), Cleveland Browns (2017), Philadelphia Eagles (2018, 2020), Los Angeles Chargers (2018-19), Minnesota Vikings (2021) and 49ers (2022-2023), he has appeared in 57 games and registered 45 tackles, 5.5 sacks, three passes defensed and two forced fumbles. He has also appeared in four postseason contests where he tallied three tackles.
In October of 2022, McGill signed with San Francisco and spent the remainder of the season between the practice squad and active roster, appearing in nine games and registering eight tackles. McGill also appeared in all three postseason games where he added two tackles. In February, McGill re-signed with the 49ers.
Okuayinonu is entering his third year in the NFL, and his second with the 49ers. The defensive lineman originally entered the NFL after signing with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
Throughout his two-year NFL career with the Tennessee Titans (2022-23), he has appeared in six games and registered 11 tackles and 0.5 a sack between the Tennessee's active roster and practice squad. In January 2023, the 49ers signed Okuayinonu to the team's practice squad.
