The San Francisco 49ers are rolling into the 2026 season with a whole lot of buzz and confidence, at least for this year, despite some long-term questions hanging over the franchise. But don’t let that optimism fool ya, because ESPN’s Nick Wagoner just dropped the real bomb: their pass rush production is the single “biggest concern” for the whole franchise. Yeah, you heard that right, even with Nick Bosa coming back. Wagoner isn’t convinced this unit will be a good pass-rushing team in 2026, and honestly, who could blame him?
Last Place in Sacks? Seriously?
It’s tough to even type this, but the numbers don’t lie. In 2025, the 49ers’ pass rush was an absolute no-show, finishing dead last in the entire NFL with a measly 20 sacks. Let that sink in. Myles Garrett, who’s now tearing it up for the Los Angeles Rams, had 23 sacks *all by himself* last season. So, the Niners’ whole squad couldn’t even match one guy. Wagoner is straight up saying that even with Bosa back, there’s no guarantee this unit gets significantly better. In fact, if things go really sideways, it shouldn’t even be *worse* than last year, because 20 sacks was just a terrible season for them! This is a huge problem for a team expecting to contend, and it’s not the only worry. Wagoner also pointed out that their wide receiver room is new and could start slow, plus Christian McCaffrey is coming off a huge 2025 season and his history “doesn’t bode well” for 2026. Plenty of other red flags, but the pass rush is the biggest.
The Edge Rushers Are Back, But Are They ‘Back’?
Okay, so Nick Bosa is back on the field, and Mykel Williams is returning too. That’s big for the edge rusher room, no doubt. They also grabbed defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, which is a nice interior addition. And rookie Romello Height is stepping in for Bryce Huff. On paper, these options are definitely looking more encouraging than what they rolled out for most of 2025. But here’s the kicker: every single one of these guys comes with a huge question mark. Will Odighizuwa click in a new system? Bosa and Williams are both coming off serious ACL injuries from last season; can they really return to their dominant form right away? And can Height actually break out as a rookie? There’s potential for a strong season, absolutely, but those are some serious unknowns hanging over their defensive front. The questions surrounding their entire pass rusher group, both from the edge and the interior, are real issues.
There’s no sugarcoating it: the questions surrounding this 49ers pass rush are real. Despite Bosa’s return, it might not be enough to fix what was clearly a broken unit that finished dead last in sacks. This squad might not be significantly better than they were last year, which could lead to a seriously underwhelming season for San Francisco. They have to prove it on the field, starting Week 1, or their season could be over before it truly begins.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
Leave a Reply