49ers Defensive PFF Grades: Depth at Edge Shows Promise, Interior Struggles Continue

The San Francisco 49ers defense came into Week 10 looking to bounce back, but while a few 49ers young defenders flashed, the overall results were uneven. San Francisco’s edge rushers provided steady effort, yet the interior defensive line had a rough day. 

Sam Okuayinonu, DE — 70.5 (46 snaps)

Okuayinonu led all 49ers defenders this week with a strong 70.5 grade. He was disruptive off the edge and showed consistency in both phases: pressuring the quarterback and setting the edge in the run game. His energy was a bright spot for a defense searching for answers in the trenches.

Robert Beal Jr., DE — 69.3 (10 snaps)

Beal made the most of his limited opportunities. In just 10 snaps, the second-year edge defender flashed explosiveness and good instincts, generating pressure and holding his own against the run. It’s the kind of performance that could earn him more rotational work moving forward.

Curtis Robinson, LB — 63.4 (3 snaps)

Though Robinson only saw three snaps, he made them count. His limited action came mostly on special teams and spot defensive snaps, but he handled his assignments cleanly and efficiently.

Dee Winters, LB — 59.8 (63 snaps)

Winters continues to develop as he takes on a larger role in the 49ers’ linebacker rotation. Playing every defensive snap, he held his ground against the run and made several key tackles in open space. His instincts and communication have improved with each outing, he also had three quarterback pressures which was most on the team. 

Keion White, DE — 57.6 (32 snaps)

White was steady in his 32 snaps, flashing strength at the point of attack. While his grade doesn’t jump off the page, his ability to hold gaps and set the edge helped limit some of the big plays that developed inside.

CJ West, DT — 28.4 (29 snaps)

It was a tough outing for West, who posted the lowest defensive grade of the week. He struggled to anchor against the run and was pushed off the ball too often, allowing inside lanes that the opposing offense exploited repeatedly.

Jordan Elliott, DT — 28.7 (38 snaps)

Elliott’s performance wasn’t much better, as he too had issues winning at the line of scrimmage. His inability to shed blocks and create penetration made it difficult for the defense to get off the field.

Luke Gifford, OLB — 28.9 (26 snaps)

Gifford had difficulty setting the edge and missed a couple of open-field tackles. While his effort was solid, his technique and positioning need to improve.

Kevin Givens, DT — 42.6 (28 snaps)

Givens provided some push at times but struggled to maintain consistency. The defensive interior as a whole failed to control the point of attack, and Givens’ 42.6 grade reflects that overall lack of disruption.

Clelin Ferrell, DE — 44.5 (24 snaps)

Ferrell had a quiet game and wasn’t able to generate the kind of pressure expected from a veteran edge presence. He’ll need to rebound next week to keep his rotational role secure, especially with younger players like Okuayinonu and Beal making strides.

The 49ers’ defensive PFF grades tell a clear story that the edge held their own, but the interior line couldn’t match that energy. The lack of push inside affected both the run defense and pass rush, forcing the linebackers to shoulder too much of the load.

With promising performances from Okuayinonu and Beal Jr., there’s some encouraging depth developing on the edges. But if the 49ers want to regain their defensive dominance, the improvement will need to start up front through the middle.