San Francisco 49ers sign DT Sebastian Valdez

Sebastian Valdez earns a B− Contract Value Index (CVI) on his signing with San Francisco, a deal that reflects disciplined roster construction at a premium position without breaking the bank. At $1.005M total, this is a league-minimum-adjacent commitment for a defensive tackle—exactly the kind of low-cost depth move a contender like the 49ers can afford during the preseason window when depth rotations are still taking shape. The CVI assessment here hinges on Valdez's positioning within the defensive line rotation: if he's a rotation piece or camp invitee with upside, the salary-to-opportunity ratio is sound; if he's a pure roster filler earmarked for the practice squad, the grade reflects that modest utilitarian value. The age factor and relatively slight salary score weigh the deal toward the middle of the value spectrum—not a steal, but not an overpay in a market where productive depth at the defensive interior remains scarce. For a team sitting at 12−5 and fighting for playoff positioning, a low-risk signing of this size is the kind of transaction that leaves cap flexibility intact without sacrificing roster depth as the regular season approaches.