The San Francisco 49ers are keenly aware they are drastically short on outside pass-rushers heading toward the NFL Draft this April, and it wouldn't be a shock to see general manager John Lynch use at least one pick (perhaps two) to address the void.
And that void was made larger earlier this month, following the shocking retirement of edge Bryce Huff at age 27.
True, the Niners will get back defensive end Nick Bosa from last season's ACL tear, and it wouldn't be a surprise if they brought in a past-his-prime veteran like his older brother, Joey Bosa, on a one-year deal to provide more thump on the outside.
But an easier (and cheaper) move is staring Lynch and Co. right in the face. And it's something they can do right now without any serious ramification.
49ers should quickly re-sign Clelin Ferrell to a cheap 1-year deal
Huff was tied for San Francisco's most sacks in 2025 with four (gee, that's not a lot... but neither were the 49ers' combined 20 sacks).
The other defender who tallied four? Defensive end Clelin Ferrell, whom the Niners signed off the street last November after he was jettisoned from the Los Angeles Chargers' practice squad. Yet Ferrell still managed to record those four sacks in just eight games played with San Francisco.
Surely, the Clemson alumnus will never live up to his lofty draft status when the Oakland Raiders made him the No. 4 overall pick back in 2019. But, one could argue Ferrell had his best season, previously, back in 2023 when he was a full-time start on the 49ers defense that made it all the way to the Super Bowl.
With almost zero reported interest from across the league, Ferrell would easily be a cheap addition to the 90-man offseason roster, likely costing the Niners a veteran's minimum deal with zero in guaranteed cash.
That way, assuming San Francisco doesn't land who it wants via the draft or subsequent free agency waves, it'd have a defender it knows well who can at least plug the gap.
Easy.