San Francisco 49ers Questioned for ‘Overpriced’ Signing
The San Francisco 49ers have prioritized a dominant pass rush during the franchise’s recent run of success, but general manager John Lynch might have overpaid during NFL free agency this offseason for former Carolina Panther Yetur Gross-Matos.
Gross-Matos, 26, signed a two-year deal worth $18 million to potentially slide into a starting role opposite Nick Bosa along the 49ers’ front seven.
But, Pro Football Focus lists Gross-Matos’ contract as one of the bigger overpays of free agency, so far.
“Gross-Matos is a former second-round draft pick who is just 26 years old,” Gordon McGuinness writes for PFF. “So it’s understandable that a team would think there is still some development to come from him. That being said, his career year in 2023 saw him earn a 65.4 overall grade and a 65.2 pass-rush grade, neither of which ranked among the top 50 edge defenders last season.
What Yetur Gross-Matos Brings San Francisco 49ers
While Gross-Matos has never quite lived up to his second-round pedigree, it’s easy to envision a change of scenery and arriving in one of the more consistently dominant defensive lines bringing out the best in the former Penn State standout.
Gross-Matos arrives in the Bay Area with just 13 sacks. But, as PFF points out, the fourth-year edge rusher added 19 pressures in 2023.
Now joining a loaded roster with one of the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl next February, Gross-Matos could push Leonard Floyd for a starting job opposite Bosa while also adding quality and experienced depth in the front seven.
