The San Francisco 49ers are already scrambling, folks, and it’s barely mid-September. With serious turmoil rocking their pass-rushing group early in the season, an insider just spilled the beans on four potential free agent pickups they might be eyeing to save their defense. Matt Barrows from The Athletic broke down the options, painting a clear picture of how much the Niners need help on the edge, especially with Mykell Williams on the PUP list and Alfred Collins out for the entire year. This isn’t just about depth anymore, it’s about trying to fix a gaping hole.
When “Dependable” Means Only 3.5 Sacks
If the 49ers are looking for a “dependable starter” and not some kind of project, Leonard Floyd’s name is on the list. He’s a known quantity for the 49ers front office, having played for them in 2024, and he’s familiar with defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, who coached him in Atlanta in 2025. But here’s the kicker: this guy just turned 34, and last season, he only managed 3.5 sacks for Morris’s Falcons. Three and a half! Barrows pointed out that the 49ers aren’t exactly in a position to be choosy, especially when their *own* sack leader in 2025 finished with just four. That tells you everything you need to know about the struggle bus they’re riding. A veteran with 3.5 sacks being considered a solution? Yikes.
Familiar Faces and High-Stakes Gamble Plays
Then there are the other names, each with their own set of question marks. Haason Reddick, for example, is a lighter-framed edge rusher who fits systems similar to what Morris is installing. At 31, he played 13 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025 but only logged 2.5 sacks in Todd Bowles’ defense. That’s a “Romello Height-type piece” option, meaning they’re looking for specific production there, or maybe just worried about Height’s current output.
And get this: Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa’s older brother, is still floating around as a possibility. We all know about the durability concerns with him over a full 17-game slate, right? But if the 49ers can get comfortable deploying him for just an eight-game stretch, it might be worth the gamble. He put up five sacks and 54 quarterback pressures for the Buffalo Bills last season, which wasn’t elite production, but it’s still more than what the 49ers are currently getting from the spot opposite Nick. Finally, there’s Yetur Gross-Matos, a former 49er who played the past two seasons for the team. His time was unfortunately marred by a knee issue that limited his snaps and practice reps. But when he was healthy enough to play last season, the dude produced: his 16.3 percent pass-rush win rate ranked second on the team, trailing only Nick Bosa’s 20 percent mark.
None of these potential additions would cost a lot of cash, which is good. But the fact they’re even talking about these names, and what those players produced last season, seriously highlights the depth issue they’re facing on the defensive line right now. The Niners need to make a move, and fast, if they want to get their pass rush squared away for the rest of this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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