49ers UDFA looks to carve out reserve role on defensive line

The San Francisco 49ers‘ defensive tackle room is largely set, but there’s still room for backups to break through on the interior. One player looking to do just that is undrafted free agent Bryson Eason, a converted linebacker who transformed into a defensive tackle prospect over his six seasons at Tennessee.

Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport believes Eason has one of the best chances to crack the 53-man roster among the 49ers’ UDFAs.

At 6’2″ and 323 pounds, Eason is most assuredly a space-eater. But as his 5.09-second 40-yard dash time shows, Eason didn’t lose all of his quickness when he got bigger. What kept him from getting drafted is that his technique and knowledge of his new position haven’t caught up to his new frame just yet.

At 6’2″ and 323 pounds, Eason is most assuredly a space-eater. But as his 5.09-second 40-yard dash time shows, Eason didn’t lose all of his quickness when he got bigger. What kept him from getting drafted is that his technique and knowledge of his new position haven’t caught up to his new frame just yet.

Across 61 career games, Eason totaled 105 tackles, including 22.0 for loss and 4.5 sacks, with the bulk of that production coming in his final four seasons after he added weight and moved to the defensive line full-time. His most productive year came in 2025, when he racked up 31 tackles and forced a fumble in his final season with the Volunteers.

The 49ers were reportedly aggressive in pursuing Eason after the draft, including a sizable guarantee in his contract. Still, his path won’t be easy. San Francisco‘s depth chart at the position begins with Osa Odighizuwa and Alfred Collins as starters, with C.J. West and rookie Gracen Halton behind them. That leaves Eason to battle fellow UDFAs Evan Anderson, Sebastian Valdez and James Thompson Jr. for a reserve spot.

That competition is stiffer than it looks. Anderson earned a hefty rookie bonus in 2024 himself but stalled out on the practice squad after a preseason knee injury. Valdez, nicknamed “Hulk” for his build, impressed coaches enough with his power and quick learning curve that Kyle Shanahan called him up for game checks last season. Thompson, a five-year college veteran, flashed at Wisconsin and Illinois before joining the 49ers this offseason.

For Eason, earning a reserve role means proving his technique can catch up to his frame — and doing it faster than three other undrafted hopefuls with a head start.