As the offseason heats up, three teams with championship aspirations-the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, and Buffalo Bills-are all circling the same glaring need: edge help. After underwhelming sack production in 2025, it's clear that bolstering the pass rush is a top priority across the board.
Let’s start with the numbers. The 49ers finished dead last in the league in sacks last season.
That’s not just surprising-it’s alarming for a team built around a dominant front seven. Dallas didn’t fare much better, tying for 26th, while Buffalo landed at 23rd.
For teams that pride themselves on defensive disruption, those rankings are a red flag.
Each team has its own version of the same problem. In Dallas, the Cowboys are still searching for someone to replicate the havoc Micah Parsons used to wreak off the edge. Parsons’ departure left a void that hasn’t been filled, and the defense struggled to generate consistent pressure without him.
In San Francisco, the issue isn’t about replacing a star-it’s about supporting one. Nick Bosa is still the centerpiece of that defensive line, but he’s coming off a torn ACL, and he can’t do it alone. The Niners need another legitimate threat to take some of the heat off Bosa and give opposing quarterbacks something else to worry about.
Buffalo’s situation is a bit different. Joey Bosa was supposed to be the answer when he arrived, and early on, it looked like he might be.
He notched four sacks in his first eight games and seemed to be settling in nicely. But the second half of the season told a different story.
Bosa managed just one sack and 12 pressures the rest of the way, then disappeared entirely in the postseason. It was a disappointing stretch that has the Bills seriously considering moving on.
Still, Bosa’s name is surfacing again-this time as a potential free-agent target for teams in need of veteran help. According to projections, he’s expected to command a two-year, $27.4 million deal on the open market. That’s not elite edge rusher money, but it’s a solid investment for a team looking to add depth and experience without breaking the bank.
San Francisco has been floated as a possible landing spot, and the idea of a Bosa brothers reunion is certainly intriguing. With both Nick and rookie Mykel Williams recovering from ACL injuries, bringing in Joey as a rotational piece makes a lot of sense. He wouldn’t need to carry the load-just provide steady pressure and leadership while the younger guys work their way back.
The Cowboys are another team to watch. Their pass rush lacked juice in 2025, and while Bosa isn’t the game-wrecker he once was, he could still be a valuable complementary piece. With the right scheme and snap count, he might just have enough left in the tank to make an impact.
Tampa Bay has also been mentioned as a potential suitor, and while they’re not as desperate as San Francisco or Dallas, they could use another edge presence to round out their front seven.
As for Buffalo, a reunion seems less likely. The late-season drop-off and postseason struggles left a sour taste, and it’s hard to see the Bills investing further in a player who didn’t deliver when it mattered most.
So where does that leave us? If we’re ranking the most realistic landing spots, San Francisco and Dallas are the clear frontrunners.
Both have the need, the cap space, and the incentive to take a calculated swing on a veteran like Bosa. Tampa Bay remains a dark horse, while Buffalo appears ready to move in a different direction.
Bottom line: Joey Bosa may not be the elite edge rusher he once was, but in the right role and on the right team, he could still provide meaningful value. For contenders looking to shore up their pass rush without making a blockbuster splash, he’s a name worth watching.