The San Francisco 49ers recorded just 20 sacks last season, the fewest in the NFL. The team opened the 2026 season with a convincing 27-7 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, but the defense failed to record a sack, which could be a concern given last year's struggles.
49ers insider Matt Barrows answered fan questions in a mailbag feature for The Athletic, including one about which free-agent defensive linemen could help in the trenches this season.
While Barrows notes that losing starting defensive tackle Alfred Collins was significant, the 49ers' biggest need might still be at defensive end.
"Though Mykel Williams is technically a defensive end, he'll be able to play a lot of defensive tackle snaps — especially on obvious passing downs — when he's back after Week 4," Barrows wrote. "The same goes for Keion White."
Barrows then examined several potential free-agent options and what each could bring to the 49ers' pass rush.
Haason Reddick
Haason Reddick has 61.5 career sacks, although he has recorded just 3.5 over the last two seasons with the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Before that, however, Reddick posted double-digit sack totals in four consecutive seasons.
"If the team wants another Romello Height-like player or is worried it's not getting enough out of Height, Reddick would be a good solution," Barrows wrote. "He's a lighter-bodied edge player who's played in systems similar to the one defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is running this year."
Leonard Floyd
Leonard Floyd has familiarity with the team, having spent 2024 with the 49ers and recording 8.5 sacks that season, second only to Nick Bosa's nine. Floyd played for the Atlanta Falcons in 2025, recording just 3.5 sacks, and turned 34 last week.
"If the team wants a dependable, every-down defensive end, Floyd is the answer," Barrows wrote. "He's familiar to both the 49ers' brass and Morris. Yes, Floyd turned 34 last week and had only 3.5 sacks last year for Morris' Falcons. But the 49ers aren't in a position to look down their noses at 3.5 sacks. Their sack leader last year had four."
Joey Bosa
The name has been discussed throughout the offseason because of the possibility of uniting the Bosa brothers on the same defensive front. Joey Bosa is the older brother of Nick Bosa, San Francisco's star pass rusher who missed all but three games last season because of an ACL injury.
"If the 49ers want a second-half-of-the-season boost, how about Bosa?" Barrows wrote. "The team might be worried about how Nick Bosa's oft-injured older brother might hold up over a 17-game season. But an eight-game season seems reasonable. Joey had five sacks and 54 quarterback pressures for the Bills last year. That's not elite, but it's better than what the 49ers have opposite Nick at the moment."
Yetur Gross-Matos
Another familiar option for the 49ers is Yetur Gross-Matos, who spent the last two seasons with San Francisco. He is recovering from an injury, though, and might not be ready until later in the season.
"Another interesting option is Yetur Gross-Matos, whose recent stint with the 49ers was marred by a knee issue," Barrows wrote. "Gross-Matos didn't play or practice much, but when he was on the field, he made an impact. His 16.3 percent pass-rush win rate last season was second-best on the team behind Bosa's 20 percent rate.
"Gross-Matos is currently rehabilitating from that knee injury and isn't ready to play. That could change by midseason."
Mentioned in this article: Nick Bosa, Alfred Collins, Romello Height, Keion White, Mykel Williams
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