49ers Add Depth on the Defensive Line and Offensive Line With One-Year Deals, Release Two Players

The San Francisco 49ers announced Tuesday they have signed defensive lineman Victor Dimukeje and offensive lineman Nick Zakelj to one-year deals. The moves come as the team manages its offseason roster heading into the next stretch of training-camp and preseason evaluations.

The signings address two different areas of roster depth. Dimukeje, listed as a defensive lineman, joins the 49ers’ front rotation, where teams typically search for playable depth that can contribute across a range of fronts and game situations. Zakelj, an offensive lineman, adds another option to the group charged with protecting the quarterback and creating run lanes.

To make room for the two new contracts, San Francisco released running back Khalil Herbert and offensive lineman Kion Smith. Releases of this kind often reflect the realities of roster limits, where teams carry only so many players at each position category and must decide which skill sets fit the current mix of starters, backups, and special teams roles.

Herbert’s departure closes out the 49ers’ running back room as currently constructed, while Smith’s release removes an interior or depth option from the offensive line group (Smith is identified by the team announcement simply as an offensive lineman). With the two additions, the 49ers are essentially reallocating roster space toward other positions or profiles they believe will be more immediately useful in the coming weeks.

For teams, one-year deals can serve multiple purposes. They may provide a low-commitment path for a player to compete for a role in camp, while also giving the organization flexibility if an injury, performance gap, or tactical need emerges early in the season. From San Francisco’s perspective, the timing suggests they want additional competition and depth without locking into longer financial commitments at this stage.

On the field, these types of roster adjustments can influence who sees reps first in live situations. Defensive line additions often affect how often a team can keep key players fresh in rotation, while offensive line additions can shape competition for backup spots and the combinations used with the starters. Even without changes to the team’s long-term blueprint, depth signings and releases can alter the daily practice hierarchy.

What to watch next is whether Dimukeje and Zakelj carve out specific roles as camps progress and preseason games provide a clearer measurement of fit. At the same time, San Francisco’s released players, Herbert and Smith, will be looking for new opportunities elsewhere, and their next destinations could offer a quick external read on how other teams value their skill sets.