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Defensive line pair departs as 49ers’ find themselves in need of depth [reports]

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© Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports


One of the defining characteristics of the 49ers’ 2019 campaign was the team’s ability to find more than serviceable depth options, especially on the defensive line, as injuries mounted. Ronald Blair III was lost for the season with a torn ACl, and so too was D.J. Jones after being sidelined on an off again with lower-body injuries. Jones’ backup/replacement was Sheldon Day, who, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, will join DeForest Buckner in Indianapolis. Both started together in the Super Bowl.

Damontre Moore came in for Blair and the oft-injured Dee Ford performing admirably before fracturing his hand. Jeremiah Valoaga was ineffective, and became one of the only performance-based roster casualties. He was replaced by Anthony Zettel, who went from the NFL’s worst in the Bengals to the Super Bowl-bound 49ers. Zettel has signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

Those departures leave the 49ers in need of defensive line depth, which will surely be amended, at least in part, through the draft. There are a number of interior options, broken down here in free agency, and broken down here for each stage of the draft.