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49ers should kick tires on recently-waived Panthers O-lineman
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- 49ers should kick tires on recently-waived Panthers O-lineman
The San Francisco 49ers didn't make any waiver claims on the first wave of roster cuts, but a name emerged in the second wave that could push them to try and add a player via the wire.
According to the Ringer's Tom Pelissero, the Carolina Panthers waived offensive lineman Chandler Zavala on Monday.
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Zavala, 27, was a fourth-round pick of the Panthers in the 2023 draft out of North Carolina State. He struggled throughout his rookie season while starting all seven games he played, including one at right guard and six at left guard. In Year 2 he bounced back while playing in 13 games with two starts. His starts came once at RG and once at LG, but he also appeared in 39 snaps lined up at left tackle.
Last season Zavala started five games at right guard and appeared in a sixth at that spot.
Injuries have tainted Zavala's career in Carolina and never let him fully get his footing as an NFL offensive lineman. In his rookie season he missed five games because of a neck injury and then immediately suffered a season-ending knee injury.
He got through 2024 healthy, then in 2025 the injury bug bit again with knee and calf injuries limiting him to only six games.
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A change of scenery might be good for Zavala who would give the 49ers versatile depth in the middle of their offensive line. San Francisco might be all set with its OL depth, especially if they re-sign Robert Jones. They kept Connor Colby on the 53-man roster and traded for Houston Texans OL Jarrett Patterson on cutdown day.
However, if the 49ers feel like they could still use upgrades in the middle, Zavala is an intriguing player on the waiver wire who may still have some upside if he can stay healthy.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers should kick tires on recently-waived Panthers O-lineman
