Report: 49ers release DE Leonard Floyd

The roster reset in Santa Clara continues. ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported that the San Francisco 49ers were releasing defensive end Leonard Floyd, who spent just one season with the team after signing a two-year, $20 million deal in 2024. The 49ers made the move official with an announcement shortly after.

The decision results in a dead cap hit of approximately $8.6 million, along with around $1.5 million in cap savings for 2025—unless a post-June 1 designation is applied. In that case, the impact would be spread out, creating a dead cap hit of $2.16 million and nearly $8 million in savings for 2025.

The Chicago Bears drafted Floyd (6-6, 240) out of Georgia with the No. 9 overall pick in 2016. Last season, Floyd recorded 42 tackles (eight for a loss), 16 quarterback hits, 8.5 sacks, a pass defensed, and a forced fumble in 17 starts for the 49ers. He played 57% of the team's defensive snaps, per Pro Football Reference.

Floyd's 8.5 sacks ranked second on the team, behind only Nick Bosa's nine. It was his fewest sacks since 2019.

Floyd, 32, has accumulated 412 tackles (71 for a loss), 138 quarterback hits, 66.5 sacks, two safeties, 15 passes defensed, two interceptions, two touchdowns, and five forced fumbles over 138 games (137 starts) in nine NFL seasons.