Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) during the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The San Francisco 49ers finally have their 53-man roster settled. San Francisco made some big moves on roster cutdown day and the team looks ready to compete in Week 1. Unfortunately, their task just got a little bit harder after one anticipated development finally went down.
The Rams finally got their guy, bringing Aaron Donald out of retirement on a $20 million contract. Now LA has a truly fearsome defensive front with Donald playing next to Myles Garrett, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, and Byron Young. That unit is not only deep, but packed with talent all the way down the depth chart.
It should not be surprising that San Francisco wasted little time preparing for that defensive unit. The 49ers traded for offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson just hours after the Donald news became official.
Patterson is no starter, but he should provide excellent depth at right guard behind Dominick Puni.
Will that addition be enough for the 49ers to go toe-to-toe with the Rams? Or should they add even more reinforcements before Week 1?
The 49ers need to make one more last-minute roster move now that they know the Rams have Donald back on their defensive line.
What is the best way to counter Aaron Donald: upgrading on offense or defense?
There's no question that LA getting Aaron Donald is bad news. But what should San Francisco do in response to that big move?
One age old question in situations like is how exactly to counter the addition of a legendary player like Donald. Is it a better idea of upgrade the o-line to try and stop Donald from making plays? Or should the 49ers go step-for-step and attempt to add a dangerous pass rusher of their own?
Ultimately, there is no one right answer to this question. That gives the 49es freedom to answer that question in whichever way best matches their preferences.
The 49ers already upgraded the offensive line by bringing in Patterson. So going the offensive route might mean doubling down on the offensive line. But that could be a difficult position to find great talent at, especially at this point just before the regular season.
Remember, this is Aaron Donald we're talking about. San Francisco cannot just pick up a guard off the street and ask him to shut down Donald. Even if he gets help with a chip or a double team.
Instead, the 49ers might be better served by adjusting their blocking strategy specifically when playing the Rams. And even then, only when Donald is on the field.
Meanwhile, San Francisco could upgrade their own pass rush unit by bringing in a reliable veteran. Not only would this keep them on par with the Rams, but it would give them a boost against all of their other opponents too.
There's already one veteran defender on the market who is uniquely qualified to play next to Nick Bosa…
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The 49ers need to reunite the Bosa brothers to beef up their pass rush unit
Buffalo Bills defensive end Joey Bosa watches the offensive line on the field during second half action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Joey Bosa is still sitting out there as an unrestricted free agent. He would make the perfect addition to San Francisco's pass rush unit alongside his brother Nick.
The pair of brothers have only played one season of football together. They were both part of the 2012 high school football season at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Joey and Nick never had the opportunity to play together at Ohio State.
Joey is now 31 years old, but a career plagued with injuries means he may not have much left in the tank. This could be his last opportunity to suit up next to his brother in the NFL.
Storyline aside, the 49ers could really use Bosa's help. At least to start the season.
Mykel Williams will start the season on the PUP list, guaranteeing he will miss at least four games. Williams tore his ACL in November of 2025, so it makes sense he will be slow to return. That puts the 49ers in a difficult situation to start the 2026 season.
San Francisco will be relying on Sam Okuayinonu, rookie Romello Height, Keion White, and Ogbo Okoronkwo to create pressure opposite of Bosa. That may not be enough to get the job done in Week 1.
If the 49ers do decide to bring in Joey, they'll need to do so as quickly as possible. Not only would Bosa need to get acclimated to his new team, but San Fran plays in Australia to start the regular season.
Adding Bosa would be an excellent story and could help the 49ers keep up in a highly competitive NFC West division.
Make it happen, John Lynch!