The San Francisco 49ers are staring down a critical offseason, and while there are needs across the roster, one issue looms larger than the rest: the pass rush. Or, more accurately, the lack of one.
This past season, the Niners struggled mightily to generate pressure. They finished dead last in total sacks with just 20, and the underlying numbers paint an even bleaker picture - 30th in quarterback knockdown rate (6.5%) and 30th in pressure rate (16.7%). In a league where disrupting the quarterback is often the difference between a deep playoff run and an early exit, those numbers simply don’t cut it.
And if San Francisco needed a reminder of how critical a dominant pass rush can be, they got it in the most painful way possible - watching their NFC West rivals, the Seattle Seahawks, win Super Bowl LX. In Levi’s Stadium, no less.
Seattle’s relentless defensive front wreaked havoc throughout the postseason, and it culminated in them lifting the Lombardi Trophy on the 49ers’ home turf. That’s a gut punch, and it underscores just how far San Francisco needs to go to close the gap.
Enter Joey Bosa.
NFL reporter Greg Auman has predicted a potential family reunion in the Bay Area, with the 49ers signing Joey - older brother of star edge rusher Nick Bosa - in free agency. Joey is set to hit the open market in March, and while this isn’t the first time he’s been linked to San Francisco, the fit feels more compelling than ever.
There’s the obvious family connection, of course. But beyond the sentimental appeal, there’s a very real football case to be made.
As Auman noted, Joey has just two playoff wins in a decade-long NFL career. At this stage, chasing a ring might matter more than chasing top dollar.
And few destinations offer a better combination of Super Bowl potential and personal ties than lining up opposite his brother in the red and gold.
Nick Bosa, who tore his ACL in September, is expected to return next season. When healthy, he’s a game-wrecker - the kind of player who demands double teams and still finds a way to get home.
The 2022 Defensive Player of the Year is the engine of the 49ers’ front seven. But as this season proved, even a player of his caliber can’t do it alone.
The team’s first-round pick in 2025, Mykel Williams, also tore his ACL in November. He’ll return in 2026 and bring fresh legs and talent to the rotation, but expecting him to carry the load as a second-year player coming off a major injury would be a gamble.
That’s why the idea of adding Joey Bosa makes so much sense.
He’s not the same every-down force he was earlier in his career, but make no mistake - Joey can still bring it. In 2025 with the Buffalo Bills, he put together a strong campaign: 29 tackles (nine for loss), 16 quarterback hits, five sacks, two pass deflections, and a league-best five forced fumbles across 15 games. That performance earned him the 17th-highest grade among all edge defenders from Pro Football Focus, out of 115 qualified players.
Those aren’t just solid numbers - they’re the kind of stats that suggest Joey still has plenty left in the tank, especially in a rotational role. And in today’s NFL, where pass rushers are rotated like hockey lines to stay fresh and explosive, having a veteran like Joey Bosa in the mix could be a game-changer for San Francisco.
The 49ers don’t just need bodies on the edge - they need impact. They need guys who can win one-on-ones, force turnovers, and collapse the pocket in big moments.
Joey Bosa fits that mold. He’s experienced, productive, and motivated.
And if he’s willing to take a little less to chase a ring with his brother? That’s the kind of move that could shift the balance of power in the NFC - and help the 49ers finally get over the hump.