The San Francisco 49ers used a third-round pick in the 2026 draft on Romello Height to give their pass rush a needed boost after struggling last season to get to the quarterback consistently.
Still, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Niners look to add a veteran free agent before the 2026 season to strengthen the edge position further. Moreover, there are veterans in the free-agent market who have consistently gotten after the QB.
During his May 3 video on his YouTube channel, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco responded to questions from fans and shared whether Joey Bosa is still a potential option for the 49ers to bolster their pass rush.
“As long as Joey Bosa remains unsigned, he’s still an option,” Maiocco said. “Some of the top available players include Haason Reddick, Joey Bosa, and Michael Danna from Kansas City. Leonard Floyd was previously with the 49ers, but after being released, a return seems unlikely.
“Still, even with those names out there, it’s not something to expect. While they are options, it doesn’t seem likely the team would be willing to pay Joey Bosa the kind of money he’s looking for.”
Last season with the Buffalo Bills, Bosa turned in a solid 2025 campaign, finishing with an overall PFF grade of 79.3, 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.
49ers, Joey Bosa Are an Ideal Pairing for Analyst
Whether or not Bosa and the 49ers end up reaching an agreement remains to be seen. Nonetheless, CBS Sports’ Mike Renner believes the Niners 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 Showed With the Bills He Can Still Produce
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,” Renner added. “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.”
49ers Insider Gives Clear Message on Free Agent Joey Bosa