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The San Francisco 49ers lacked a pass rush in the 2025 NFL season, so this area of the team needs major improvement this offseason. San Francisco will have Nick Bosa back and traded for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa.

Nonetheless, with the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, the Niners could use the draft to find a pass rusher to bolster their team sack totals for next season. However, there’s also the possibility of going the trade market route.

In an April 8 article from FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano , the columnist and reporter pitches a trade that would see the 49ers send the 2026 second-round pick (58th) and 2027 conditional fifth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Nick Herbig.

“Their pass rush was completely punchless last season, with Bryce Huff leading the team with just four sacks,” Vacchiano wrote. “They are hopeful that both Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams will be healthy and back in their old form next season, but they could use another body in the rotation.

“Herbig, 24, is stuck in a rotation behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith in Pittsburgh and in the final year of his contract. He had 13 sacks in a limited role over the past two seasons and would be well worth the high pick it would probably cost for the Steelers to swap him.”

Last season for the Steelers, Herbig earned an overall PFF defensive grade of 86.7 , ranking seventh among 115 qualified edge defenders. Moreover, his pass-rush grade of 87.1 placed him eighth, while his run-defense grade of 71.4 ranked 23rd at the position.

As a pass rusher, he generated 47 total pressures, including eight sacks, 26 hurries, and 13 hits. Against the run, he recorded 14 solo tackles and forced two fumbles.

49ers Insider Gives Latest on Joey Bosa

Another pass rusher in the Niners speculation mill is Joey Bosa as a move to the Bay Area would see him play alongside his younger brother. Nonetheless, recently, 49ers general manager John Lynch put cold water on that speculation.

“I know that would make Mama Bosa happy, but I don’t know if we can afford him,” Lynch said (h/t David Lombardi of the SF Standard ).

However, David Lombardi, who covers the 49ers for the San Francisco Standard, speculates whether the Niners could wait after the draft to see whether they see eye to eye with Bosa on his asking price.

“There is a nonzero chance the 49ers exit the draft without picking up a defensive lineman projected to make the 53‑man roster, leaving holes in their rotation,” Lombardi said on April 4 on his YouTube channel . “If that happens, they might turn their attention back to free agency with a different price point in mind.

“Right now, they don’t see eye to eye with Joey Bosa, but after the draft, when signings don’t count against the compensatory formula, the 49ers could potentially reach an agreement with someone like Bosa.”

Niners Get Compelling Take on Jadeveon Clowney

Meanwhile, CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell sees the Niners as the top landing spot for Jadeveon Clowney, who spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys .

“The San Francisco 49ers ranked last in the NFL in team sacks in 2025, and their 1.18 sacks per game now stands as the lowest by a team that made the postseason,” Podell wrote in his article published on April 3 .

“Yes, San Francisco gets both 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year edge rusher Nick Bosa (torn ACL) and 2025 11th overall pick edge rusher Mykel Williams (torn ACL and torn meniscus) back in 2026/ Adding a healthy, proven pass rush threat along the edge in Clowney would relieve some of the urgency on those two to rush back from their injuries.

“Plus, Clowney already has plenty of pass-rush chemistry with new 49ers defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa after suiting up together in Dallas last season.”

Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo