The 49ers need to add at the defensive end position in the wake of the surprise retirement of Bryce Huff, and they have been touted as a potential destination for Joey Bosa in free agency.
On Saturday, it was reported that the 49ers made a move with Nick Bosa that could help facilitate the signing of his brother.
Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Media, the 49ers performed a simple restructure of the younger Bosa’s contract.
That clears $17.172 million of cap space for 2026, though the 2019 second overall pick
is still due $23.18 million in the coming season. His cap number for 2027 is now $54.866 million.
San Francisco was regarded as a potential landing spot for Joey Bosa last offseason before he signed with the Buffalo Bills.
Available again this year after finishing 2025 with five sacks and 54 pressures — 24th among edge defenders with at least 100 pass rush snaps, per PFF — Spotrac gives him a market value of $13.7 million per year.
As such, the restructure of his sibling’s deal gives the 49ers extra room for maneuver to finally pair the two brothers on the same defensive line.
Outside of Bosa, the 49ers have little in terms of outside pass-rushing talent following Huff’s retirement. Mykel Williams and Keion White are better used as inside rushers, though Sam Okuyainonu has shown he can generate disruption off the edge as well as through the middle.
Adding Joey Bosa would give the 49ers a veteran who can take some of the pressure off Williams by assuming a high number of snaps as a base defensive end, freeing up the 2025 first-rounder to spend more time rushing the passer from the interior.
The 49ers would likely still look to add a long-term rotational pass rusher via this year’s draft if they did sign the elder Bosa, but, for the forthcoming season, it would be a smart, floor-raising move for a defensive line light on proven disruptors. It would be no surprise if Nick Bosa’s restructure is soon followed by the signing of his brother.
