Following four seasons with the team, Quinton Dial‘s tenure with the 49ers has come to an end. According to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area (via Twitter), the team has released the veteran defensive end.
The 2013 fifth-round pick had been a consistent presence on San Francisco’s defensive line over the past few seasons, starting 26 games between 2015 and 2016. Following a 2015 campaign when he established career-highs in tackles (59) and sacks (2.5), Dial seemingly took a step back in 2016, finishing with 36 tackles and no sacks. The 27-year-old had signed a three-year extension with the organization prior to last season.
Dial’s versatility was certainly appreciated by the 49ers, but the team is seemingly content moving forward with other reserve pieces. Roster Resource lists Aaron Lynch, Ronald Blair, and Tank Carradine as the team’s backup defensive ends, while Chris Jones and D.J. Jones are the team’s lone reserve defensive tackles.