The upcoming offseason could bring significant changes for the San Francisco 49ers as they look to reshape their roster following a disappointing 2024 campaign. However, pass rusher Nick Bosa believes the defensive line is finally hitting its stride and hopes the unit can remain intact heading into 2025.
The 49ers are coming off a crushing Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, a defeat that likely ended their playoff hopes. Despite the outcome, Bosa saw encouraging signs in the team's primetime performance, fueling his optimism for the future.
"Watching that tape the other night really got me excited," Bosa told reporters on Monday. "Obviously, it didn't turn out—this year, that game—like we wanted, but I see a lot of guys in our D-line room, and I want all of them back next year."
The 49ers made significant efforts to revamp their defensive line this past offseason, bringing in Leonard Floyd, Yetur Gross-Matos, and Jordan Elliott. They also traded for Maliek Collins to strengthen the interior.
"I think we have all the players in our room right now to be that dominant line, and I think we looked like it on Thursday night," Bosa said. "I was just talking to [Floyd]; he's had to adjust to the scheme. He's been an outside backer, but his performance [from] the first Rams game to this one [has been] unbelievable. He's playing the run incredible.
"Maliek's been great all year. He's almost [at] a career-high in sacks."
Collins has recorded five sacks this season, tying his career-high from both last season and his rookie year.
Bosa also highlighted Floyd and Gross-Matos' progress. Floyd currently has 8.5 sacks, just two shy of his career-high of 10.5, achieved in 2020 and 2023. Despite missing significant time due to injury, Gross-Matos has already registered four sacks, closing in on his career-high of 4.5.
"Love what Evan's (Anderson) done," Bosa added. "I think he's going to keep ascending. [Kalia Davis], [Robert Beal], all players that are young and are going to keep getting better. And most of them are going to be here next year, I think, so I'm excited.
"I want the same guys in the room, and I think a lot of growth happened this year."
Bosa acknowledged that it's easy to focus on the disappointment of an underwhelming season, but he prefers to look at the progress the defensive front has made. That development gives him hope for a stronger campaign in 2025.
