The San Francisco 49ers have announced that the team has signed defensive lineman Zach Kerr to a one-year deal. The Carolina Panthers released him on March 16.
It is worth noting that Kerr's overall Pro Football Focus grade of 84.1 led Carolina's defense last season. His run-defense grade of 77.8 and pass-rushing grade of 77.7 each ranked second among Panthers players in those categories.
The 49ers Communications staff provided the following rundown.
Kerr (6-2, 334) originally entered the NFL after signing with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent on May 11, 2014. Throughout his seven-year career with the Colts (2014-16), Denver Broncos (2017-18), Arizona Cardinals (2019) and Carolina Panthers (2020), he has appeared in 88 games (16 starts) and registered 167 tackles, 9.5 sacks, seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Last season with the Panthers, Kerr appeared in 13 games (four starts) and finished with 32 tackles, 2.0 sacks, two passes defensed and one forced fumble.
A 30-year-old native of Gaithersburg, MD, Kerr attended the University of Delaware for three seasons (2011-13) after transferring to the school from the University of Maryland (2009-10). He started all 22 games with the Blue Hens and tallied 84 tackles, 4.5 sacks, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception. As a senior in 2013, he earned First-Team All-CAA honors after finishing with 57 tackles, four passes defensed, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
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