The San Francisco 49ers recorded just 20 total sacks last season—the fewest in the NFL by a wide margin. In response, the team added Osa Odighizuwa via trade and is also expecting the return of edge rushers Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams, both of whom are coming off ACL injuries.

Even so, San Francisco is widely expected to continue addressing its struggling pass rush in the 2026 NFL Draft. According to Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network, one potential solution could be found late in the first round at No. 27: UFC defensive end Malachi Lawrence.


"When you talk about guys who fit that scheme, you've got to feel their juice off the edge, and (Lawrence), he brings that," Jeremiah said during a conference call on Tuesday. "The run (stopping) stuff, he's got to get a little better. There's times he gets stuck at the point of attack. He needs to improve.

"But if you told me Malachi Lawrence, you could handpick him to play in one defense, I'd send him to San Francisco."

Jeremiah believes Lawrence would be an ideal fit in the 49ers' defensive system and could benefit from learning from Nick Bosa and defensive line coach Kris Kocurek.

Lawrence finished last season with seven sacks and has 19.5 over the past three years, according to Sports Reference. He also stood out at the NFL Scouting Combine, posting a 4.52-second 40-yard dash, a 40-inch vertical jump, and a 10-foot-10 broad jump while measuring 6-foot-4, 253 pounds.

"(Lawrence is) built to play in that attack front that they use," Jeremiah said. "Kocurek would love this type of a player. Just line him up wide and let him go."


The 2026 NFL Draft is set to begin next week in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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