The 49ers have added another body to their pass-rushing mix, and this one comes with a little local flavor. San Francisco signed former Cowboys fourth-round pick Viliami Fehoko, a move that gives the team some extra edge depth heading into the final week of the preseason.
It’s not the kind of addition that changes the shape of a defense, and nobody should expect Fehoko to suddenly turn into a centerpiece off the edge. He still has plenty to prove after stints with the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders. But for a team that can always use more help in the front seven, bringing in another edge rusher is the sort of move that gets attention in San Francisco.
The 49ers still have room to chase a true difference-maker, but Fehoko gives them a useful short-term option in the pass-rushing room. Kyle Madson of USA TODAY’s 49ers Wire broke down the signing and noted the roster move that came with it:
"The San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday added some pass rush help for the final week of the preseason by signing defensive end Viliami Fehoko. They released tight end Josiah Deguara in a corresponding move per the NFL transaction wire.
Fehoko is a Mountain View, Calif. native who played his college football at San Jose State. He entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2023 draft.
Injuries derailed his career early and cost him virtually all of his rookie season. He was waived before his second season and signed with the Washington Commanders' practice squad late in the 2024 campaign.
Washington eventually waived Fehoko with an injury designation early in 2025. He caught on with the Colts practice squad and was waived in April. He's yet to play a regular season snap."
That makes this a pivotal stretch for Fehoko. Once a fourth-rounder starts bouncing around to a third team without establishing himself, the runway gets shorter fast.
Still, the 49ers clearly see something worth betting on. They brought him in for a reason, and now he’ll get a chance to show whether he can turn that promise into something real when he gets to work with the team in practice.
No one is confusing this move with adding a Joey Bosa or a Myles Garrett. But San Francisco did find a player with some untapped potential, some local ties, and enough grit to at least give the 49ers another look off the edge.
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