The 49ers spent the offseason trying to rebuild the part of their team that let them down most: the defense, and especially the pass rush.
San Francisco added linebacker Dre Greenlaw to line up next to Fred Warner, brought in Osa Odighizuwa to give the defensive tackle room a veteran presence, and drafted Romello Height to inject more speed into the rush. The front office has clearly tried to give the unit a different look after last year’s struggles.
Still, the question hangs over the roster: is that enough to fix a pass rush that finished 32nd in the NFL in sacks? Or is another move still coming before the season starts?
General manager John Lynch didn’t dodge the issue when he spoke to reporters last week. He said the defense simply wasn’t good enough a year ago, even if he believes the team has taken real steps forward since then.
“I think when we’ve been successful here, our defensive line has wreaked havoc,” Lynch said. “And I think that’s pretty consistent around the league.
We weren’t good enough last year. And there’s a lot of reasons for that.
But ultimately, all those reasons are just excuses. So you have to address it.
I feel confident with the way that we addressed it.
“Yes, Nick [Bosa] being back is a difference maker, but it was bigger than that. And so we’ll do some things schematically without changing.
Raheem [Morris]’s background comes from Monte Kiffin, so very similar to what [Robert] Saleh has done for us and who we’ve been. But there will be some expanded things, some more versatility.
He also pointed to the younger wave of linemen San Francisco is counting on to grow into bigger roles.
“We’ve kind of turned over this defensive line over the last couple of years with players like Alfred Collins and CJ West and this year, Gracen Halton, Romello Height, Keion White who came in last year. I’m really excited to see that group together and see what they can do because that certainly is a priority.
“When we’ve been at our best, we’ve made life miserable on the opposing offense from the defensive front. Everything starts there.
I agree. I knew that as a player.
I was a better player when I played with Warren Sapp than when I went to Denver and didn’t have that. So I get that, believe me.
And we’ve made a concerted effort to improve that. Now we’ve got to go show that we have.”
That push has come with some complications. Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, and C.J. West are all working back from offseason procedures or injuries from last season, and Height has also missed some of the early practices while dealing with an injury he suffered in camp.
The 49ers will need Collins and West to do more than just help against the run. Their development matters in the passing game too, especially with Bosa expected to be the centerpiece. Bosa, for his part, is trending well and said he’s felt faster this offseason.
The secondary remains largely unchanged, which means San Francisco is also banking on internal improvement there. Upton Stout had a strong rookie season, while Renardo Green had his uneven stretches in 2025.
And while the 49ers have not ruled out making a move during the season, including possibly on the defensive line, it remains to be seen whether they’ll add another veteran before kickoff.
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