49ers should kick tires on recently-waived Panthers O-lineman

The San Francisco 49ers did not claim any players from the initial roster cuts, but a name surfaced in the subsequent wave that could prompt them to seek additional talent via the waiver wire. According to Ringer's Tom Pelissero, the Carolina Panthers released offensive lineman Chandler Zavala on Monday. The 27-year-old Zavala was the Panthers' fourth-round selection in the 2023 draft from North Carolina State.

Despite starting all seven games during his rookie season, he faltered and was unable to replicate that success in his second year, appearing in 13 games with two starts at both right guard and left guard. In 2023, Zavala also saw time at left tackle, appearing in 39 total snaps. However, injuries have plagued Zavala's career in Carolina, preventing him from establishing himself as a consistent NFL offensive lineman.

In his debut season, he missed five games due to a neck injury and subsequently suffered a season-ending knee injury. Zavala managed to stay healthy in 2024, but knee and calf injuries curtailed his playing time in 2025 to just six games. A change of environment could prove beneficial for Zavala, providing the 49ers with versatile depth in their offensive line.

While the 49ers may already have sufficient depth in that position, particularly if they re-sign Robert Jones, adding Zavala to their roster could offer a valuable upgrade should they still seek improvements.