The San Francisco 49ers had a miserable 2024 season, and they need to put that in their rearview mirror as quickly as they can.

Only a year removed from a Super Bowl appearance, the 49ers shockingly went 6-11 and finished dead last in the NFC West. Injuries on both sides of the ball contributed to the drop-off, but the roster is also in dire need of some upgrades.

The 49ers’ pass rush wasn’t nearly what it had been in previous years this season. Their pass rush win rate dropped from 43% to 41% in 2024, and that was despite a 3% individual improvement from superstar Nick Bosa.

Put simply, Bosa needs help. And the 49ers could be uniquely positioned to pair him with his dream running mate on the other side of the defensive line.

On Tuesday, USA Today’s Cory Woodroof predicted that the 49ers would pull off a blockbuster trade this offseason for Bosa’s older brother, Joey Bosa of the Los Angeles Chargers.

“The 49ers need more juice off the edge, and they could look to Nick Bosa’s elder brother as the solution,” Woodroof wrote. “At this point in his career, Joey Bosa would be a much better complimentary rusher opposite a superstar.”

“Putting the Bosa brothers together in Santa Clara could spell problems for the rest of the NFL. This feels like a no-brainer for San Francisco, and Los Angeles could add draft capital and free up some additional cap space.”

Joey Bosa, 29, is a five-time Pro Bowler, including a surprise selection this season. But he also put up just five sacks in 14 games, and he’s been far more injury-prone over the last three seasons than he was early in his career.

The 2025 season is also the final year of the $135 million contract extension the elder Bosa signed with the Chargers in 2020. Moving him seems highly plausible for Los Angeles, and there’s likely no team more motivated to acquire him than San Francisco.

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