On Monday August 18, 2025, NFL expert Kristopher Knox released a Bleacher Report article called “2025 NFL Roster Cuts: Predicting the Biggest Names Who Could Hit the Market,” and Knox predicted the 49ers will cut DE Yetur Gross-Matos.
“Gross-Matos was sidelined by a knee injury to open training camp and could have a hard time securing a spot among a crowded roster,” Knox wrote.
“Other franchises might have an easier time justifying Gross-Matos’ $7.4 million base salary, given his past production in a rotational role. However, the 49ers made it a point to purge salary this offseason and could save $7.8 million by releasing him.”
Gross-Matos is entering the final year of a two-year, $18 million contract he signed with San Francisco during the 2024 offseason. He spent his first four NFL seasons with the Carolina Panthers.
Does Cutting Gross-Matos Make Sense For SF?
Knox makes a good point about the potential financial implications of keeping Gross-Matos for the 49ers. They have cut an almost unfathomable amount of salary this offseason, and are now expecting younger talent to step into key roles immediately.
Rookie EDGE rusher Mykel Williams is indeed likely to start over Gross-Matos.
But the 49ers do not have a “crowded roster” on the defensive line in the way Knox says they do. In numbers, sure. They have a whopping 18 defensive linemen currently on their 90-man roster.
But that’s because seven defensive linemen are injured, and many of the healthy linemen are raw and inexperienced. The 49ers have needed to sign several linemen just to function like an NFL offensive line. Most of those 18 players are fringe roster players who are only in San Francisco to get the 49ers through camp.
Besides Nick Bosa, the 49ers have no proven commodities at defensive end. As mentioned, Williams will likely start, but as of now, Gross-Matos is projected to back him up because the 49ers need proven commodities at that position. The 49ers need more than just Bryce Huff backing up their starting DEs.
Based on talent and experience, there is no way Gross-Matos is going to be beat out by other players, despite what Knox says. He was fourth on the team with 4 sacks last season in only 11 games.
The team has only gotten less experienced around Gross-Matos, which should create more opportunities for him to shine.
The only way he is cut before the August 26 deadline is purely if the 49ers decide that paying him is not worth the games he could miss due to injury. That is also unlikely to be the case.
49ers Also Predicted to Cut Several Wide Receivers
Longtime 49ers insider Matt Maiocco does not think the 49ers will cut Yetur Gross-Matos. He seems certain Gross-Matos will take a spot on the roster when he returns from the PUP list.
However, he does think the 49ers could cut several prominent wide receivers. That is despite the 49ers’ current injury issues at that receiver.
In his most recent 53-man roster prediction, released on Monday August 18, 2025, Maiocco predicted the 49ers will keep only Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins on their opening day roster, with Brandon Aiyuk on the PUP list and DeMarcus Robinson suspended.
The potential problem with that plan is that Jennings, Cowing and Watkins are all also dealing with minor injuries. Jennings is also in the midst of a contract dispute with the 49ers.
The 49ers need at least one more wideout, on their active roster not just on the practice squad, who they can 100% trust to be healthy and productive. Robbie Chosen was the most impressive in the 49ers’ 22-19 win over the Raiders on Saturday August 16, 2025. Chosen had 5 catches for 92 yards, leading the team. Those are great numbers for a preseason game.
What do you think of these roster/cut predictions, 49ers fans?
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