A year ago, it sure felt as if the San Francisco 49ers could pounce on the opportunity to pair up their best pass-rusher, Nick Bosa, with his older brother, Joey Bosa, soon after the Los Angeles Chargers opted to part ways with the latter.
Exactly how close the Niners came to inking the elder Bosa is anyone's guess, and speculation was there were no serious talks.
But that was a year ago. Things have changed quite dramatically since.
Joey Bosa spent a successful 2025 with the Buffalo Bills, logging five sacks and five forced fumbles over 15 games played. Now again a free agent, and despite the reality he's no longer a premier pass-rusher at this stage of his career, San Francisco giving him a call and reuniting him with Nick Bosa on the same field would be a dream scenario.
And it'd be a useful one, too.
49ers have golden opportunity to pair Nick Bosa with Joey Bosa (again)
The 49ers were already short on outside pass-rushers entering the offseason, not unlike where they were an offseason ago. But, in light of defensive end Bryce Huff's unexpected retirement, the Niners have to be scrambling for contingency options right away.
Fortunately, there hasn't seemed to be too big of a wave for Joey Bosa's services just yet. That's good for the Niners.
Spotrac's market-value tool values the older brother at $13.7 million per year, which isn't an unreasonable rate for a B-level pass-rusher who's managed to stay relatively healthy over the last two seasons.
Plus, adding Joey Bosa would provide a needed stopgap while San Francisco continues to seek younger pass-rushing options via the draft, all the while giving the fanbase a fun-to-watch Bosa Bros. show at Levi's Stadium on Sundays.
The 49ers missed their chance at this a year ago. They don't have to miss another now.