The San Francisco 49ers were run out of the building by the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round last season, a disappointing finish for a team that has consistently been in postseason contention under Kyle Shanahan. Given that track record, there’s little reason to believe San Francisco won’t be right back in the mix this year.
With that in mind, the next step becomes clear: identifying the right addition to strengthen the roster and help the 49ers take the next step.
Joey Bosa Could Join Brother Nick Bosa in San Francisco for 49ers Playoff Push
John Lynch and the front office have already shored up the defensive line by trading for the Dallas Cowboys’ experienced defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. Filling a stable, complementary role in Dallas for the past five years, the tackle racked up 17.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 81 quarterback hits.
However, Fox Sports’ Greg Auman believes more can be done to reinforce San Francisco’s defensive line, nominating Joey Bosa as a key free agent the team should pursue.
“Bosa, 30, had only five sacks in a healthy first season in Buffalo, but he did lead the NFL with five forced fumbles,” Auman wrote. “He should get a deal similar to the $12.6 million he got a year ago.”
The Buffalo Bills aren’t in the financial position to re-sign the five-time Pro Bowler, meaning the Niners wouldn’t have to give up draft capital to acquire his services.
“With two playoff wins in 10 years in the league, might he consider taking less to join his brother Nick Bosa with the 49ers and try to make a meaningful postseason push?” Auman added. “Buffalo is over the cap as it is, so it might look to go younger rather than bringing Bosa back.”
Like his brother, Joey Bosa has established himself as one of the most dominant pass rushers in the NFL, barring injury concerns. Entering his 11th year in the pros, he has recorded 77.0 sacks along with more than 20 forced fumbles, more than 90 tackles for a loss, and more than 160 quarterback hits.
The 49ers struggled significantly to get to the quarterback in 2025. With Nick injured, it was up to supporting pieces like Bryce Huff and Clelin Ferrell to pick up the slack. While 2025 marked improvements on defense from 2024, the unit still wasn’t up to the team’s usual standards.
In 2022 and 2023, the franchise boasted top-10 defenses that carried them deep into the postseason, finishing three points shy of a Super Bowl win in 2023 with an 82.3 PFSN Defense Impact Score.
Although there’s a strong argument to be made for the Bosa brothers to join forces and make a storybook run to the Super Bowl, it remains to be seen which roster Lynch and company prioritize.
