5 potential roster cuts 49ers could target after training camp

49ers Target No. 1: EDGE Mario Addison, Buffalo Bills

Let’s assume for a moment that Niners EDGE Dee Ford isn’t able to come back from his serious back injury suffered last season, essentially leaving fellow EDGE Nick Bosa as the lone serious pass-rushing threat on San Francisco’s defense.

True, linemen like Samson Ebukam and Arik Armstead are there, but there’s still a general lack of pass-rushing prowess for the 49ers, and it’ll be vital to keep Bosa, who suffered an ACL tear last year, rested and refreshed in his first year back from injury.

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Soon to turn 34 years old, Buffalo Bills EDGE Mario Addison is an aging and expensive player who certainly doesn’t fit into Buffalo’s long-term plans. True, the Bills could keep Addison as a supplementary pass-rusher. But with a 2021 cap hit of $8.2 million, that doesn’t exactly make a lot of sense.

While Addison is only one year removed from four straight seasons of nine-plus sacks, posting just five with the Bills in 2020, the Niners wouldn’t have to make him a featured pass-rusher.

Instead, think of a former rusher San Francisco had back in 2017, EDGE Elvis Dumervil, who actually managed 6.5 sacks in a situational role that year at the age of 33 years old.

Addison wouldn’t be asked to do much. But landing another pass-rusher if one is made available is never a bad idea.