The San Francisco 49ers have a big offseason ahead of them, as they’ll have money to spend in free agency and don’t have too many major pending free agents, unlike last offseason.
When it comes to needs for the 49ers, you can make an argument to add at several positions. But some of the more notable areas are wide receiver and defensive line.
The 49ers didn’t have stability at wideout last year. No receiver topped 650 yards. Kendrick Bourne was the team’s No. 2 receiver in terms of yards behind Jauan Jennings. Ricky Pearsall dealt with injuries and played in only nine games. Demarcus Robinson didn’t have the impact expected when he signed in free agency. It was an all-around tough year at the position for the 49ers.
Defensively, the 49ers didn’t have much of a pass rush last year. With Nick Bosa missing much of the year with a torn ACL, San Francisco averaged the lowest sacks per game in the NFL last year. They did look to get younger at the position by drafting Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, and C.J. West, but a premier addition there would make a lot of sense.
So it’s not much of a surprise that FOX Sports analyst Greg Auman predicted the 49ers to sign two edge rushers in free agency when breaking down his Top 100 free agents. A logical choice is Atlanta Falcons edge Arnold Ebiketie, who played for newly-hired defensive coordinator Raheem Morris the last few years.
Ebiketie had six sacks in back-to-back years before producing only two this season, so a bounce-back year in San Francisco seems like a possibility. Despite the lower sack production, he had a strong 16.8 percent pass rush win rate according to PFF, so there’s definitely some upside here at 27 years old.
“Ebiketie, 27, got pushed aside with Atlanta using two first-round picks on rookie edge rushers in 2025,” Auman wrote as he predicted Ebiketie to sign with the 49ers. “After 12 sacks in 2023-24, he managed just two, even as the Falcons’ defense leaped from 31 sacks to 57 in 2025. That’s not to say he can’t get back to a solid rotational role in a fresh start — could he follow Raheem Morris to San Francisco, or reunite with Ryan Nielsen in Minnesota? A one-year deal in the $6-8 million range would let him reset himself for 2027.”
Another option that Auman suggested was reuniting Nick Bosa with his brother Joey. The 49ers looked to sign the elder Bosa last offseason, but he opted for a better offer from the Bills, taking a one-year, $12.6 million deal.
At 30 years old, Bosa had five sacks and five forced fumbles in 2026, with the latter mark leading the NFL. He also had 54 pressures in 17 games, recording a 15.0 percent pass rush win rate. The health is a question mark, but he’d provide some pass-rush juice.
Auman also sees the 49ers re-signing Jauan Jennings, but notes the price tag will be a factor.
“Jennings, 28, could benefit as San Francisco is expected to move on from Brandon Aiyuk, who missed 2025 recovering from a major knee injury,” Auman said. “The 49ers’ receiving corps has underwhelmed — Jennings has 15 touchdown catches over the last two seasons, but he also totaled 643 yards this season on 90 targets, ranking 55th among NFL receivers in yards/target. If he’s getting more than $20 million a year, could he price himself out of San Francisco’s budget?”
The 49ers probably need some edge help, especially if they move on from Yetur Gross-Matos. But I wouldn’t rule out interior help, either, on the defensive line to add a veteran next to the two young draftees from the 2025 class. As for receiver, San Francisco would benefit from a deep threat, but a Jennings return could make sense as well if the price is right.
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