Despite acquiring Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa—whose value as a pass rusher stands out more than his run defense—the 49ers still lack consistent edge pressure to pair with Nick Bosa, who is returning from an ACL injury.
Additionally, last year's first-round draft pick, Mykel Williams, is also recovering from a torn ACL, while Bryce Huff's sudden retirement further depleted the unit. The result was an underwhelming season for San Francisco's defense, which recorded a league-low 20 sacks in 2025.
To address the issue, Pereles highlighted one free agent and one draft prospect as potential solutions. The veteran option is pass rusher Joey Bosa, Nick's older brother, while the draft fit is former Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell.
"The 49ers had one of the most anemic pass rushes in the NFL in 2025, and while injuries to Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams played their parts, San Francisco still needs to make a major leap here," Pereles wrote.
"A Bosa brother tandem could work well in that instance. The 49ers need a speed rusher who jumps off the screen with explosiveness. Maybe that's Howell."
Joey Bosa has recorded just five sacks in each of the past two seasons and has not reached double-digit sacks since 2021. Even with his career winding down, he still made an impact in 2025, forcing five fumbles.
As for Howell, the nearly 6-foot-3, 253-pound edge rusher ran a 4.59-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine after posting 11.5 sacks during the 2025 season. He also has 13 passes defensed over the last two seasons, according to Sports Reference.
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