We looked at potential wide receivers for the San Francisco 49ers to consider after the first round, under the impression their hand might be forced in the first round. General manager John Lynch has made it no secret that he wants to build his team through the defensive line.
There have been plenty of swings and misses, but you could see the “why.” Whether it was giant human beings in Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner, or undersized pass rushers like Bryce Huff and Javon Hargrave.
Regardless of who
the sidekicks have been, every decision has revolved around making life easier for Nick Bosa. Heading into 2026, the team will get Bosa and 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams back from injury.
Williams doesn’t turn 22 until June. He missed the second half of his rookie season, but figures to return and grow into the player the Niners want him to be. Mykel needs to play to get better. The good news is he’ll be lined up next to a veteran defensive tackle with a pass-rushing prowess the 49ers thought they were getting with Hargrave.
Bosa will be 29 this season. The last time he came off a serious knee injury, he had 15.5 sacks and 26 tackles for loss the following year. That was five years ago. We know Bosa is one of the most dominant players in the league when he’s on the field. Still, is it foolish to assume he’ll return to being one of the best in the NFL this time around?
Do the 49ers NEED to draft an EDGE rusher in the first round of the NFL Draft?
That brings us to the article’s question. With two starters returning from injury, one recently retired, and the other two run-stoppers entering their second season, are the 49ers in a position where they need to draft an edge rusher?
My answer: Based on the decisions in free agency and the current roster construction, I lean closer to yes. Of course, this is fickle, and everything depends on how the draft falls to the 49ers. We know they do not prioritize the offensive line. You could do a lot worse than Mike Evans, Ricky Pearsall, and Christian Kirk. Is that the long-term trio? No. But adding an edge rusher checks more boxes than a receiver, tackle, or player in the secondary would.
Based on last season, you love the idea of Alfred Collins and CJ West on early downs, but they didn’t bring much to the table when the quarterback dropped back to pass. The good news is the pendulum is starting to swing back to the point where running the ball matters more. Still, Kyle Shanahan said the team envisioned Williams as a pass-rushing defensive tackle on passing downs.
So close to 65% of the time, you’re looking at Bosa-Osa Odighizuwa-Mykel-? Depth pieces like Keion White and Sam Okuayinonu give Raheem Morris depth options when Bosa and Williams need a breather. Osa should live on the field. But with the number of odd fronts Morris runs and the plan for Mykel to play on the inside, there’s a need for an EDGE.
That player makes Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw better run defenders. They also take pressure off the secondary. To me, these signs point to the addition of a defensive lineman in the first round. Drafting for need has not worked out well for the 49ers, but the pattern is too consistent to ignore.
What do you think about the 49ers’ need along the defensive line? Do you agree with my assessment, or are the Niners in a position where they can take a “best player” approach? Scroll down to the comment section and let us know.
