Joey Bosa, Buffalo Bills
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(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The San Francisco 49ers are aiming to boost their pass rush heading into the 2026 season, with a focus on adding depth at the edge to avoid leaning too heavily on just one or two players.
One name drawing attention in the speculation chatter is veteran Joey Bosa, who played last season with the Buffalo Bills. In 2025, Bosa posted a 79.3 overall PFF grade, placing him 17th among 115 qualified edge defenders.
Moreover, his pass-rush was a standout, earning a grade of 88.7, while his run-defense grade of 54.6 ranked 94th. Bosa recorded 47 total pressures, including five sacks, 12 hits, and 30 hurries. He added 22 solo tackles against the run and forced five fumbles over the course of the season.
While seeing the older Bosa play with his younger brother, Nick Bosa, would be interesting, 49ers general manager John Lynch put cold water on that speculation.
“I know that would make Mama Bosa happy, but I don’t know if we can afford him,” Lynch said (h/tDavid Lombardi of the SF Standard).
Joey Bosa Doesn’t Fit 49ers’ Need on Defense
San Francisco could use that production from the older Bosa. Aside from the financial aspect Lynch laid out, Grant Cohn, who covers the 49ers for On SI, says he doesn’t fit the profile that defensive coordinator Raheem Morris wants.
“I just don’t think the 49ers are interested in Joey Bosa,”Cohn said on March 24 on his YouTube channel. “Maybe Nick is. Maybe Cheryl Bosa is interested in this, you know, teaming together. I just don’t see why Raheem Morris would want it. Seems like what Raheem Morris is looking for is a very specific type of player, an outside linebacker. That is not Joey Bosa.
“The way Raheem Morris usually coaches his defense, I’m not a Raheem Morris expert, but I’ve followed him when he was in the NFC West with theRams. He was a head coach. He wants guys on the edge who can drop into coverage. That’s a necessary skill; it’s part of his scheme when he’s calling coverages and blitzes.
“He wants guys on the edge who can drop into coverage, not once a season but two or three times a game. He already has one edge guy who can’t do that in Nick Bosa.”
Does Joey Bosa Make Sense for the 49ers?
While Cohn doesn’t believe Joey fits the profile the 49ers need at edge, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco recently shared his thoughts on the potential move for the Niners to add another pass rusher, noting it makes sense.
“[The] 49ers still have a little bit of money to be able to add an edge rusher,”Maiocco said in a March 14 video from his YouTube channel. “I would think the guy at the top of the list is Joey Bosa… To me, Joey Bosa makes sense. I do not think he is going to be as costly as he was a year ago, when he accounted for about $13 million for the one season with the Buffalo Bills.
“Joey Bosa turns 31 in July. He started 15 games for Buffalo last year and played 64 percent of the snaps. He had five sacks and five forced fumbles. So he can still play. The question is whether he is an every-down player at this stage in his career. He pretty much was with the Buffalo Bills.”