The San Francisco 49ers are set to enter training camp with one of the deepest defensive lines they’ve had in a few years.
They have the run stoppers in Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, and C.J. West, but now they have the pass rushers, like Osa Odighizuwa, to help complement Nick Bosa. If they can get anything from their rookies, Romello Height and Gracen Halton, that would mean their role players, Keion White and Sam Okuayinonu, wouldn’t need to be relied on as much as starters.
Are those names enough?
You can never have too many pass rushers, which is why the 49ers will be a popular team whenever a team is floating around a potential trade involving an edge rusher.
According to Jason La Canfora, the 49ers are among a handful of teams that could pursue Steelers pass rusher Alex Highsmith:
The Steelers’ loaded pass-rush group, led by TJ Watt and recently extended Nick Herbig, has created a potential squeeze on Alex Highsmith.
While Pittsburgh has no urgency to move him, inconsistency and a schematic shift could make him the most likely trade candidate.
League interest is already forming, with Washington, Philadelphia, Buffalo and San Francisco all monitoring his situation ahead of a possible in-season move.
But linebacker Alex Highsmith could end up being the one to go at some point this summer or fall.
Highsmith has flashed strong pass-rush potential in the past, but has been unable to get home consistently. Getting with new coaches in a new scheme could help, and several teams were at least monitoring the Garrett situation, league sources pointed to Washington, Philadelphia, Buffalo and San Francisco, who could well end up suitors for Highsmith.
The Steelers aren’t facing any sort of deadline, and with Watt missing so much time lately, carrying three into the season would make a lot of sense for them.
But there is skepticism league-wide about Aaron Rodgers’ ability to lead them at quarterback at his advanced age, and for this team to win the AFC North again with the Ravens and Bengals seemingly poised with superior rosters and far superior quarterbacks.
Highsmith’s name is going to crop up in trade inquiries and rumblings into the season, and the recent extension speaks to Herbig having a chance to prove to be a far more consistent force in their defense under a new coaching staff.
It would be surprising if the Steelers had a winning record come the trade deadline. There’s a better chance of them being among the league’s worst teams than of them making a playoff run.
That opens the door for Highsmith, who has two years remaining on his contract with zero guarantees. That’ll make Highsmith’s contract more tradeable. However, with two years remaining, despite extending Herbig, that doesn’t mean Highsmith would be cheap.
The 49ers would pursue Highsmith if one of their draft picks doesn’t show promise or can’t contribute as soon as the team would have hoped. If one of the young players gets injured or needs more time, that opens the door for the 49ers to pursue a veteran like Highsmith.
Other free-agent options like Joey Bosa or Jadeveon Clowney’ll be much cheaper than the Niners, who also figure to keep an eye on. Again, you can never have enough players who can get after the quarterback.
It feels like all of this hinges on what the players on the current roster do early in the season. But if a player like Mykel Williams needs to start on the PUP list or is slow to shake off the rust, then a trade or signing becomes more likely.
