English
Español
The San Francisco 49ers are fully in offseason mode, with the NFL Combine starting up this week and free agency soon to follow.
After a 13-win year that included a playoff win, the 49ers are in a good spot to grow this offseason, having the resources to spend in free agency, while also having seven draft picks to use in the 2026 NFL Draft.
But those resources will have to fill quite a few needs, as the 49ers do have some holes on the roster, namely at wide receiver and along the defensive line. So it was no surprise that general manager John Lynch identified the latter as a top area of improvement when talking to the media on Tuesday.
“I think you always, you want to get better as a team. Now, one tangible thing, we’ve always prided ourselves on our defensive front and getting after people,” Lynch said at the Combine. “And last year, if you just look at the numbers, now I don’t think the numbers are always reflective. I felt like there were games where we put a lot of pressure on, but you’ve got to put the quarterback down, and so that’s something that we want to address, and we will address.”
It makes sense why. The 49ers were last in sack rate, and it wasn’t close. No player had more than four sacks last year with Nick Bosa hurt, and it showed. Additionally, San Francisco was 20th in yards per carry, so the run defense could use some improvement as well.
San Francisco drafted Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, and C.J. West last year, spending significant capital to bolster the defensive line. But Williams’s season was cut short due to a torn ACL.
Collins and West should be contributors in the middle at defensive tackle, while Williams has the flexibility to rush from the inside. But the 49ers would benefit from adding another proven defensive tackle to the mix, and pass rush should certainly be a priority this offseason opposite Nick Bosa.
We’ll see how new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris changes up the defense (if he does) to create more pressure. Last year, the Atlanta Falcons were fourth in sack rate, and rookie James Pearce Jr. had double-digit sacks.
But the 49ers view their defensive front as a priority, which could hint where they might spend (either money or draft capital) this offseason.