The San Francisco 49ers have gone looking for help on the edge, and they found a veteran with a Super Bowl ring.
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the 49ers are in agreement on a deal with free-agent edge rusher Ogbo Okoronkwo, who spent time with the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles. Fowler reported, "Source: Veteran edge rusher Ogbo Okoronkwo is signing with the 49ers today. Reunites with DC Raheem Morris from their time together with the Rams."
San Francisco’s need at the position has grown during a training camp that has already brought a wave of injuries for important players on both sides of the ball. The wide receiver group has been dealing with its own test, but the edge rusher room has become the bigger problem. Rather than let the shortage linger, the 49ers moved to add depth.
Okoronkwo, 31, should give them exactly that. He appeared in one game last season with the Eagles, but in 2024 with the Browns he played in 16 games and posted 3.0 sacks, 23 tackles, five tackles for loss, six quarterback hits and nine pressures.
Over eight NFL seasons, the former fifth-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 2018 has totaled 17 sacks, 132 tackles, 31 tackles for loss and 38 quarterback hits.
He is not being brought in as a splashy name or a top-end pass-rush gamble like Joey Bosa. But he does arrive as a steady veteran who could end up being more than just emergency insurance once the regular season begins.
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