49ers in Position to Add Star's Brother to Boost Pass Rush

The San Francisco 49ers added former Texas Tech defensive end Romello Height to boost the pass rush for the upcoming season.

The 49ers ranked 28th in sacks last season, only bringing down the opposing passer 27 times. That number needs to improve if San Francisco wants to compete in the NFC West with the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, which feature explosive offenses.

Matt Bowen of ESPN named Joey Bosa as a “best team fit” for the 49ers this offseason. Joey is the older brother of 49ers star defensive end Nick Bosa, and could be a fun addition to the defense under first-year defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.

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“Bosa has answered some availability questions over the past two seasons, playing in at least 14 games in each, and he fits as a pass rusher in Raheem Morris’ defense,” Bowen wrote. “Bosa played 36.3 snaps per game last season in Buffalo, finishing with five sacks, five forced fumbles, and 42 pressures.

“We still see Bosa’s speed-to-power ability on tape, and he still keeps high energy to make stops later in the down. He would provide quality depth for a 49ers’ pass rush that ranked last in pressure rate (24.9%) and total sacks (20) in 2025. And why not have some fun and put him next to his brother, Nick?”

Joey has made the Pro Bowl five times, with his last nomination coming in 2024. He was a star for the Los Angeles Chargers early in his career, but has not had a double-digit sack season since 2021, when he recorded 10.5 sacks.

His numbers have taken a hit due to his availability, but he only recorded five sacks in 2024, when he played in 14 games and started in nine games.

In 2025, Joey signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills worth $12.6 million. He wouldn’t be an expensive piece of depth at defensive end. It would make sense to rotate him in for passing downs.

While his future sack numbers might not rival his production during the first six years of his career, he can still make a critical impact on defense. He recorded five forced fumbles for the Bills in 2025, which is something the 49ers should consider.

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This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 5:39 PM.