The San Francisco 49ers' pass rush produced an NFL-low 20 sacks last season, and there are no guarantees that Nick Bosa's return will provide a significant enough boost during the team's 2026 campaign.
All offseason, the 49ers have been linked to available pass rushers. Despite Bosa's return, the team's trade for Osa Odighizuwa, and the drafting of Romello Height, concerns remain about the defensive front.
We'll get our first look at how the 49ers' pass rush looks on Thursday night when San Francisco faces the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia. If the pass rush struggles, the team could feel increased pressure to bolster the group.
One 49ers insider, Matt Barrows of The Athletic, predicts San Francisco will eventually be forced to make a move to add a veteran defensive end by midseason.
"The 49ers entered the offseason with a hole at defensive end, and somehow that hole has grown wider," Barrows wrote. "Nick Bosa, who's coming back from his third ACL repair, missed most of training camp, while 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams will start the season on PUP. Meanwhile, third-round pick Romello Height has been in and out of the lineup with various nicks and bumps and has merely looked OK when he's been on the field."
49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris acknowledged that the transition from college football to the NFL can take time for some rookies. Height's missed time during training camp hasn't helped his development.
"Feeling really good where he was going, his growth, his development, but at the same time, when you prepare for rookies, you prepare for those guys to be able to be in the lineup, be out of the lineup, what it's like to play in the National Football League," Morris said this week.
"We all know, and we expect these guys to know from having the experience in college, but it's different. These are grown men doing grown men things, and we'll ease them into this thing and get them ready to go."
The question marks surrounding the 49ers' defensive line have led Barrows to believe an addition is inevitable.
"[The concerns suggest] that at some point the 49ers will look to add a free agent like Leonard Floyd or Joey Bosa or perhaps make a splashy trade at the Nov. 10 deadline," Barrows concluded.
Floyd played the 2024 season with the 49ers before his release led him to sign with the Atlanta Falcons last offseason. His 8.5 sacks in 2024 ranked second on the team, with only Nick Bosa producing more (9).
It's unclear whether Joey Bosa intends to continue his NFL career. However, joining the 49ers would reunite him with his brother, Nick, which could provide an enticing reason for the veteran pass rusher to play at least one more season.
If the 49ers' pass rush fails to improve early in the season, a veteran addition could become less of a luxury and more of a necessity.
Mentioned in this article: Nick Bosa, Romello Height, Osa Odighizuwa, Mykel Williams
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