San Francisco finished last season with just 20 sacks, the fewest in the NFL. Their star edge rusher, Nick Bosa—Joey Bosa's brother—is coming off his third ACL injury and second since entering the NFL.
The 49ers also invested a first-round pick on defensive lineman Mykel Williams, who suffered an ACL injury last season. Add to that the abrupt offseason retirement of Bryce Huff, and the team's need for consistent pass-rushing talent is clear.
Is Joey Bosa the answer, though? At 30 years old, he hasn't recorded double-digit sacks since 2021, and his role may now be situational. Still, the veteran showed flashes of impact during his 2025 season with the Buffalo Bills.
"This isn't just about the fact that Bosa's brother, Nick, is one of the premier edge rushers in the NFL and locked in long term with the 49ers, although that doesn't hurt," Yousuf wrote. "Bosa had a bit of a resurgence last year in Buffalo, playing in 15 games, his most since 2021. He also made an impact, tallying five sacks and leading the league with five forced fumbles."
Bosa has totaled 77 sacks over his 10 NFL seasons, but has recorded just five in each of his last two campaigns. Paired with his brother Nick, though, the Bosa brothers could push each other to a higher level on the 49ers' defensive front.
Jauan Jennings to Buffalo?
Yousuf also sees the Buffalo Bills as a potential landing spot for former 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who remains available longer than most expected.
"Trading for D.J. Moore gives the Bills an upgrade at wide receiver," Yousuf wrote. "Considering what the situation was like before the trade, it's not really saying much. Moore will certainly help Josh Allen, but the front office's job is not complete. Jennings is another reliable target who has played well in his first five NFL seasons in San Francisco. Neither he nor Moore is expected to be a legit No. 1 type of receiver, but having two players at that level could help bring the best out of each of them."
Meanwhile, the 49ers' wide receiver room has undergone changes. With Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk on the way out, and Kendrick Bourne and Skyy Moore gone, San Francisco added veterans Mike Evans and Christian Kirk as pass-catching weapons for quarterback Brock Purdy.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers named potential fit for three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher
Stop me if you've heard this before: the San Francisco 49ers could use another veteran pass rusher. The need became glaring last season after defensive end Nick Bosa suffered a season-ending ACL injury in Week 3. The 49ers' pass rush never recovered, finishing with an NFL-low... -
Brandon Aiyuk throws shade at Kyle Shanahan, 49ers
Disgruntled wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk continues to take shots at the San Francisco 49ers on social media. This time, Aiyuk sarcastically suggested the 49ers want him back—a scenario that, at this point, seems highly unlikely. In the process, he also appeared to take a... -
49ers QB Brock Purdy lands surprising spot in 2026 fantasy football rankings
Where does San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy rank among the NFL's top fantasy football quarterbacks entering the 2026 season? NFL Media's Dan Parr released his fantasy football quarterback rankings for NFL.com, organizing the league's top signal-callers into draft... -
49ers' Brock Purdy left out of ESPN's top-10 quarterback rankings
The debate over where San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy ranks among the NFL's elite continues. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler continued his annual NFL position rankings this week, unveiling his list of the league's top quarterbacks. The rankings are based on feedback from NFL...