The San Francisco 49ers lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional round of the playoffs and now face a long offseason with plenty of moves to come.
While Brandon Aiyuk and the team's top free agents will be one focus, there is a clear need to upgrade the defensive front after a disastrous season.
ESPN's Nick Wagoner is urging the 49ers to add to their pass rusher room this season following the disaster that was 2025. Without Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams, the 49ers' defense generated fewer sacks than Myles Garrett.
49ers desperately need pass-rush help
"What is their top offseason priority? Bolster the pass rush," Wagoner writes. "Getting a healthy Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams will help, but San Francisco has never been shy about adding more."
After the 2025 season, the 49ers' defense managed just 20 total sacks. For comparison, Myles Garrett had 23 this season. And even adding the 49ers' two playoff games, they only managed to tie Garrett's total.
If the pass rush need wasn't clear enough, that alarming statistic should make things clear. San Francisco needs to add to their defensive line.
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Their 20 sacks and their 24.7% pressure rate were the worst marks in the NFL this season. They were also 29th in pass rush win rate, which further emphasizes the need.
While the injuries were a big reason why the 49ers couldn't make it past the Seahawks, the pass rush being so lackluster is something the 49ers must fix this offseason.
Whether it's a trade for a star pass rusher or signing one of the top free agents like Trey Hendrickson or John Franklin-Myers, the 49ers need to upgrade their pass rusher room.
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