Source: 49ers to sign pass rusher Kerry Hyder

The 49ers are adding depth at defensive end.

The team on Monday agreed to terms with free agent pass rusher Kerry Hyder, a league sourced confirmed to The Bee. NFL Network was first to report the news.

Hyder, who turns 29 May 2, spent two seasons with the Detroit Lions under San Francisco’s current defensive line coach, Kris Kocurek. Hyder had a career-high eight sacks under Kocurek in 2016 as a rotational player. He had just one sack in each of the last two seasons, respectively.

Hyder figures to compete for a backup role behind Nick Bosa and Dee Ford. Ronald Blair III was re-signed to a one-year contract to provide depth, but he’s coming back from a November ACL tear and it’s unclear if he’ll return for the start of training camp. Hyder could fill a spot vacated by free agents Damontre Moore and/or Anthony Zettel, who were both bit players during the second half of 2019.

Hyder initially joined the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2014 before signing with Detroit the next season. He spent last year with the Dallas Cowboys, recording 17 tackles, one sack, three tackles for loss and four quarterback hits while appearing in all 16 games.

Hyder was fifth on the Cowboys with 27 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. The 49ers earlier in the day added at linebacker by signing free agent Joe Walker to a one-year contract.

This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 4:43 PM.