The 49ers have spent a lot of money improving and reinforcing their defensive line over the years. But, despite those efforts, they’ve also had to continuously tweak and patch this unit for one reason or another.
Such was the case for journeyman defensive tackle T.Y. McGill, who signed to the Niners’ practice squad in the middle of the 2022 season after an injury to then-San Francisco starter Aril Armstead.
The well-traveled McGill originally joined the league as an undrafted free-agent pickup of the Seattle Seahawks in 2015 but failed to make their 53-man roster in year one.
Instead, he played his first two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts before seeing additional time with the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Washington, New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings before landing in the Bay Area.
To date, the 31 year old has appeared in 57 games, recording 45 tackles, 10 of which were for a loss, 24 quarterback hits and 5.5 sacks. Ten of those tackles occured during his 11 combined games with the 49ers between 2022 and 2023.
A pure reservist, the 6-foot-0, 295-pound McGill is built for 1-technique nose tackle duties, and the Niners prefer this position to be of a short and squatty frame.
In theory, McGill’s experience could bolster his roster chances. But, in light of numerous San Francisco offseason transactions, there’s no guarantee he makes the 53-man cut.
Bouncing back and forth from the 49ers’ own practice squad the last two seasons, McGill subsequently signed a one-year deal with the Niners worth up to $1.21 million, according to Over the Cap.
That said, none of the contract is guaranteed, meaning the Niners won’t carry any dead money if they elect to release him prior to Week 1, jeopardizing his hopes of making the 53-man roster.
McGill is on the weaker side of the roster bubble. While his veteran prowess helps, combined with the fact he’s found a way to stay in the league year after year, San Francisco has plenty of other options to round out the D-line’s depth chart, many of whom will likely carry more potential when it’s time to trim the roster from 90 players down to 53.
Armstead is gone, released in a cap-savings move earlier this offseason. But the 49ers traded with the Houston Texans for starting defensive tackle Maliek Collins while also adding fellow DT Jordan Elliott via free agency, both of whom will compete for the right to play alongside starting defensive tackle Javon Hargrave.
In addition to returnees like Kevin Givens and Kalia Davis, McGill will have to fend off another undrafted player, rookie Evan Anderson, to whom the Niners gave $280,000 in guaranteed money.
Based on the financials alone, Anderson seems to be a much stronger lock for the roster over someone like McGill.
That said, McGill could revert back into being one of those practice squad call-ups during the regular season, assuming San Francisco releases him, no other team signs him and he opts to sign with the 49ers’ reserve corps.
Should that be the case, it wouldn’t be shocking to see McGill back on the field, at least periodically, for the Niners at various points in 2024.
