The San Francisco 49ers could very well end up the home of the Bosa boys.
According to CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles, the Niners were predicted as the landing spot for free agent EDGE rusher Joey Bosa, who would join his brother Nick on their roster.
Joey Bosa, the third overall pick of the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2016 NFL Draft, spent 2025 with the Buffalo Bills on a one-year, $12.6 million contract. He had five sacks, five forced fumbles and nine tackles for loss in 15 games for Buffalo this year but is a five-time Pro Bowler.
Pereles predicted the landing spots for the top-50 free agents and ranked Bosa as No. 36.
Joey Bosa Is Predicted To Join Nick Bosa With the 49ers
Joey and Nick Bosa have not played on the same team since they were at Ohio State about a decade ago. But that could change.
The Niners, of course, were dreadful at rushing the passer and finished last in the NFL in sacks (20) in 2025. That fact, which was a consequence of debilitating, season-ending injuries to Joey’s brother Nick as well as Mykel Williams, led to San Francisco finishing 25th in the league in pass defense (232.4).
“The Bosa brothers reunite as San Francisco adds a much-needed pass rusher,” Pereles wrote. “Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams are both coming off a torn ACL, and the elder Bosa would be a help as a situational player.”
Joey Bosa, 30, is at that point in his career where he could strictly be a pass rusher — just as Von Miller and Khalil Mack have become in recent years. That Joey Bosa could only play 1-2 downs per drive, or roughly 33% of defensive snaps, could lead to a show-me, one-year deal for him.
Don’t count on the Bosa brothers reunion just yet. Pereles floated a return to the Bills, as well as Joey joining to the Dallas Cowboys or Tampa Bay Buccaneers as options as well.
The 49ers Have Other EDGEs to Consider If Joey Bosa Goes Elsewhere
The Bosas probably would love to be reunited, which may leave San Francisco the inside track to signing Joey. But if Jerry Jones throws money at him to replace Micah Parsons, there are other high-end free agent pass rushers available.
Trey Hendrickson, ranked by Pereles as the No. 2 available free agent behind only wide receiver George Pickens, would be the biggest swing for any pass-rush-needy team. After consecutive 17.5-sack seasons and an offseason holdout, Hendrickson had just four sacks in 2025 and was limited to seven games amid a core injury that ended his season.
Still, Pereles predicted the longtime Cincinnati Bengals EDGE to land with the Baltimore Ravens.
If the 49ers are worried about the cap implications of trying to sign Hendrickson, they could go with Odafe Oweh, who was ranked the No. 12 free agent available. Oweh is a less-heralded but still-formidable pass rusher who had 7.5 sacks with the Chargers after he was traded from Baltimore out west midseason.
Like is predicted with Joey Bosa, Oweh is a pass-rush specialist, since he has started just 27 of his 79 NFL games. Though like Hendrickson, Pereles predicted Oweh to land somewhere else, back with LA.
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