The idea of seeing Joey Bosa and Nick Bosa terrorizing QBs on the same defensive line suddenly feels more realistic than ever. After a brutal 2025 season exposed major flaws in the San Francisco 49ers pass rush, analysts around the league are now circling the older Bosa brother as the perfect veteran fix for the 49ers.
And honestly, even the timing makes sense. The 49ers badly need depth, proven production, and injury insurance off the edge. Joey may no longer be in his prime, yet multiple NFL insiders still believe he has enough left in the tank to become a dangerous situational weapon in the right system.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen Believes Joey Bosa Is The Perfect Fit For The 49ers
Oct 13, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive end Joey Bosa (97) on the field against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Oct 13, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive end Joey Bosa (97) on the field against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
ESPN analyst Matt Bowen recently named the 49ers as the best landing spot for Joey in free agency. The prediction comes after the 49ers finished dead last in the NFL in both pressure rate and total sacks during the 2025 season, a shocking collapse for a franchise once known for dominating the trenches.
“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. 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?”
Matt Bowen of ESPN named the 49ers as the best fit for EDGE Joey Bosa in free agency:
“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. Bosa played 36.3 snaps… pic.twitter.com/w21IYoH8yL
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) May 18, 2026
That last line is exactly why this conversation has exploded online. The Bosa brothers playing together has been an NFL dream scenario for years. Now, for the first time, it actually feels possible. Joey spent the 2025 season with the Buffalo Bills and still showed flashes of the best production despite reduced usage. Across 15 games, he recorded five sacks, 42 pressures, and five forced fumbles while averaging just over 36 snaps per game.
And more importantly, San Francisco suddenly has a major need at the position. Bryce Huff unexpectedly retired, while veterans Clelin Ferrell and Yetur Gross-Matos both entered free agency. At the same time, Nick continues recovering from a serious ACL injury, creating even more urgency for defensive reinforcements.
Financially, the move is possible too. The 49ers reportedly created significant cap flexibility after restructuring Nick’s contract earlier this offseason. Still, league executives reportedly believe the 49ers would only pursue Joey if he accepts a team-friendly deal built around a rotational role rather than full-time starter money.
That may actually work in everyone’s favor. At this stage of his career, Joey likely fits best as a situational pass rusher who can stay fresh and attack obvious passing downs, and pairing him with Nick, Mykel Williams, and rookie Romello Height could immediately stabilize one of the NFL’s weakest pass-rushing groups from last season.
And beyond the football fit, the storyline itself is massive. Two Bosa brothers hunting QBs together in the 49ers would instantly become one of the league’s biggest attractions heading into 2026.