The NFL offseason isn’t letting up, with teams still making moves even after the draft dust has settled and the bulk of free agency is in the rearview. And man, some of these signings are straight-up head-scratchers or major signals for what’s to come. Case in point: the San Francisco 49ers are bringing in linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, per ESPN, and if you watched them last season, you know why this is a big deal. The Niners were dead last in the entire NFL with a measly 20.0 sacks in 2025. That number is just brutal.
The Niners Are Getting Defensive (Finally)
Okoronkwo’s signing with San Francisco is a clear attempt to boost that anemic pass rush. The guy has 17.0 career sacks, four forced fumbles, and 132 combined tackles across 81 games, including 13 starts. He even had a five-sack season with the Houston Texans back in 2022, snagging a forced fumble and 44 tackles. Sure, he was limited to one game last season with the Philadelphia Eagles due to a torn triceps, but getting him back in the mix could be huge for the 49ers’ defensive front. He’s also reuniting with their new defensive coordinator, Raheem Morris, who was his DC when Okoronkwo was with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, a year that ended with a Super Bowl LVI win. That history could mean a quicker fit and more impact, which the 49ers desperately need.
Big Guarantees and Familiar Faces
Over in Atlanta, the Falcons are dishing out serious cash, locking down guard Matthew Bergeron. The three-year veteran just signed a massive four-year, $96 million deal that includes a whopping $60 million guaranteed, according to NFL Media. Bergeron must be good, only allowing one sack in 2025 per Pro Football Focus. He was their No. 38 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Syracuse. That’s a huge commitment to protect their quarterback, whatever the cost.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns are securing their secondary, signing safety Grant Delpit to a three-year, $48 million extension with $35 million guaranteed. Delpit was heading into the final season of his old deal, and after a 2025 campaign that saw him snag an interception, force two fumbles, recover two more, get three sacks, and defend four passes alongside 89 tackles, you can see why they wanted to keep him around. The Browns also might be bringing back a familiar face, with linebacker Jadeveon Clowney visiting. He played for them from 2021-22, even having a nine-sack season in 2021. Clowney spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys, racking up 8.5 sacks in 13 games. That’s some serious production, and a reunion could definitely give the Browns’ pass rush a shot in the arm.
Steelers Facing Early Defensive Blow
It’s not all good news around the league, though. The Pittsburgh Steelers are staring down a defensive headache early on. General manager Omar Khan confirmed that cornerback Jalen Ramsey, a three-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler, has a knee injury. He’s likely to start training camp on the physically unable to perform, or PUP, list. While the Steelers are optimistic he’ll be ready for Week 1 of the regular season, losing a player of his caliber even for a bit means their defensive planning is going to be tested right out of the gate.
As teams fine-tune their rosters heading into the regular season, every move feels critical. The Falcons are betting big on their O-line, the Browns are bolstering both sides of the ball, and the 49ers are clearly trying to fix a glaring weakness. It shows everyone is scrambling to get it right before the real battles begin.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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