The San Francisco 49ers may not have been as serious about Arnold Ebiketie as some fans hoped, but a far more recognizable name is now firmly on the radar: Joey Bosa. That was the takeaway after 49ers reporter David Lombardi wrote, “Don’t think Ebiketie was as in play for the 49ers as fans wanted him to be. Keep an eye open for Joey Bosa though.”

That is a promising update for San Francisco because the 49ers still have a real need on the edge, and the timing matters now. Bryce Huff announced his retirement, while Nick Bosa is working back from the torn ACL that ended his 2025 season in September, leaving San Francisco with reason to keep looking for pass-rush help ahead of the next phase of roster building.

49ers Rumors: Reporter David Lombardi Says to “Keep an Eye Open for Joey Bosa”

Lombardi’s wording stops short of saying a deal is close, but it is still notable because it narrows the conversation around a specific veteran who fits the 49ers’ immediate need. Joey Bosa is also still unsigned after completing a one-year stint with the Buffalo Bills, and Buffalo’s recent addition of Bradley Chubb makes a return there look less likely.

For the 49ers, the appeal is obvious. Even after trading for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, San Francisco still needs more juice off the edge, especially with uncertainty around how quickly Nick Bosa will be back to full strength and how much the team wants to lean on younger options. A Joey Bosa signing would not just be about name value. It would be about adding a proven pass rusher to stabilize snaps opposite Nick Bosa and deepen the rotation.

Joey Bosa Stats

Even if Joey Bosa is no longer in his peak-Chargers years, the production is still easy to sell. NFL stats show he had 5 sacks in 15 games for Buffalo in 2025, and he enters free agency with 77 career sacks. Earlier in his career, he posted double-digit sacks in four different seasons, including 12.5 in 2017, 11.5 in 2019 and 10.5 in both 2016 and 2021.

That matters for San Francisco because this would not need to be a superstar-carrying-the-defense move. The 49ers would simply need Joey Bosa to give them quality pass-rush reps, finish pressures, and make life easier for Nick Bosa and the interior rush.

Why Joey Bosa Makes Sense for the 49ers Right Now

The value add here is roster timing. Huff’s retirement opened up more urgency on the edge, and the 49ers are already reshaping the front with Odighizuwa. Adding Joey Bosa would give them a veteran bridge while Nick Bosa completes his recovery and while younger rushers settle into their roles.

There is also the obvious family angle, but this would be about football first. Joey Bosa still profiles as a meaningful rotational rusher, and San Francisco is in a spot where rotational help can matter a lot.

Bosa Brothers Reunion

The brother storyline would instantly become one of the biggest in the NFL. Nick and Joey Bosa have already made league history together before; NFL Research previously noted they set a record for most sacks by brothers in a single day when each had at least one sack back in 2019.

That alone would make the move headline-worthy, but the football case is stronger than the novelty. Pairing the brothers would give the 49ers a major story and a potentially useful pass-rush tandem at a time when they still need help up front.

What happens next?

Watch whether the 49ers make another edge move quickly or let Joey Bosa’s market develop. The next follow-ups are obvious: contract projection, depth-chart impact opposite Nick Bosa, fan reaction to a possible Bosa brothers pairing, and whether San Francisco views Joey Bosa as a starter or a situational pass rusher.