The San Francisco 49ers drafted Romello Height in Round 3 to improve their pass rush, which struggled to sack the quarterback. Nonetheless, could the Niners look at a veteran free agent to further bolster the edge position before the 2026 NFL season?
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The San Francisco 49ers drafted Romello Height in Round 3 to improve their pass rush, which struggled to sack the quarterback. Nonetheless, could the Niners look at a veteran free agent to further bolster the edge position before the 2026 NFL season?
One of the names linked to San Francisco is veteran free agent pass rusher Joey Bosa, who spent last season with the Buffalo Bills. He turned in a solid 2025 campaign, finishing with a 79.3 overall PFF grade, which ranked 17th among 115 qualified edge defenders.
Bosa was especially effective rushing the passer, earning an 88.7 grade in that area, though his run defense was less consistent at 54.6. Over the course of the season, he recorded 47 total pressures, including five sacks, 12 quarterback hits, and 30 hurries. He also added 22 solo tackles and forced five fumbles.
Moreover, CBS Sports’ Mike Renner believes the 49ers are the ideal landing spot for Bosa, given that the team needs pass-rush help and the player can still produce.
“They do have the fourth-most cap space in the NFL, and now they have some escalating contracts, and maybe they want to hold on to that for the rollover,” Renner said on the April 26 edition of CBS Sports HQ . “But they also want to push their chips to the table because this is getting old.
“A lot of their impact guys are kind of at the end of their rope, whether it’s Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, or even his brother Nick Bosa. This is kind of the time. Joey Bosa was productive last season. He obviously has been banged up throughout the course of his career, but he had 47 pressures.”
Joey Bosa Has Plenty Left In the Tank
Moreover, Renner notes that Bosa’s production with the Bills should give the 49ers more reason to sign him, but he did note that the player still has plenty of left in the tank despite the injury history.
“He was the Bills’ best pass rusher a year ago and was finally looking fully healthy. And, as much as he has been banged up, we think he’s really old. He’s the same age as Myles Garrett. There might still be more in the tank if he can just get his body right.
“So I think, for the 49ers, the team he might take a discount to join and play with his brother, it just makes so much sense for a team that was dead last in the NFL in sacks.”
Could the 49ers Be on the Verge of Pursuing Joey Bosa?
Recently, David Lombardi, who covers the 49ers for the San Francisco Standard, speculates whether the Niners could wait after the draft to see whether they see eye to eye with Bosa on his asking price.
“There is a nonzero chance the 49ers exit the draft without picking up a defensive lineman projected to make the 53‑man roster, leaving holes in their rotation,” Lombardi said on April 4 on his YouTube channel . “If that happens, they might turn their attention back to free agency with a different price point in mind.
“Right now, they don’t see eye to eye with Joey Bosa, but after the draft, when signings don’t count against the compensatory formula, the 49ers could potentially reach an agreement with someone like Bosa.”