Although the San Francisco 49ers are in the new process of “roster calibration,” the team desperately needs to re-vamp its defensive line core, as it struggled mightily against the run in 2024. The draft will undoubtedly be the prime opportunity to add help, but the legal tampering period for free agents begins on Monday, and the 49ers may add veteran free agents. While it is doubtful the team will add big-name players, waiting for the second and third waves of free agency may be the strategy.
Adding players who fit Robert Saleh’s 4-3 scheme is the final key to the defense returning to the top ten unit from years past. Nick Bosa is the cornerstone of the defensive line but needs help from his running mates to improve the issues with the run defense in 2025.
Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus has identified one perfect free agent signing for each NFL team this offseason and agrees the 49ers need to add a veteran defensive lineman before the 2025 season begins. Former Detroit Lions defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike is the target for John Lynch.
In the wake of their injury-tarnished season, the 49ers are in the process of sorting out which pending defensive free agents to bring back. Addressing the defensive line should be on John Lynch’s docket, and Onwuzurike is a name to keep in mind.
In his first season of regular run with the Lions, Onwuzurike turned heads in 2024, producing 47 pressures to go along with a 66.5 PFF run-defense grade. Last year, that run-defense mark would’ve been better than any other 49ers defensive lineman other than Nick Bosa. Also, with Robert Saleh back as defensive coordinator, Onwuzurike would jell in his 4-3 scheme. Since 2023, the 27-year-old ranks 13th among 36 qualified defensive linemen in PFF overall grade on 4-3 snaps (71.4).
Onwuzurike might sign for more than anticipated, but if the 49ers have room for him, he could help offset the loss of Javon Hargrave and assist the struggling Maliek Collins.
The 49ers have attempted to fill the holes on the defensive line with players who can either rush the passer or run defend, but not both. Onwuzurike fits the mold of a rotational run defender on base downs, which isn’t the worst idea, provided the 49ers find an every-down defensive tackle in the draft (Mason Graham?).
Whatever the solution is, it will be a bit from column A and column B. Getting younger is the goal, but the sum of the parts for the 2025 defensive line will have to be a mixture of draftees and veterans.