The San Francisco 49ers already were aware they needed more help rushing the passer entering the offseason. General manager John Lynch said as much when he spoke to reporters from the NFL Scouting Combine last month.
And that was before the Niners received shocking news that one of their better pass-rushers, defensive end Bryce Huff, was opting to retire at age 27 following his lone year in the Bay Area that resulted in a team-high (but still low) four sacks.
San Francisco already improved the pass rush by grabbing former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa via trade, but that's for the interior. And while Lynch and Co. should hope for a healthy return from torn ACLs by edge rushers, Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams, seeking added help via April's NFL Draft has gone from a need to a top priority.
Thankfully, the 49ers' actions elsewhere in free agency have largely freed them up to do just that.
49ers must target an edge rusher early in 2026 NFL Draft
A wide receiver might have been atop the Niners' plans for Round 1, perhaps no later than Round 2. But the acquisition of future Hall of Famer Mike Evans largely tables those plans, at least this offseason.
And while San Francisco should remain concerned about left tackle Trent Williams' uncertain future, it's nevertheless feasible to focus almost entirely on a pass-rusher within the first two rounds.
Here are some potential candidates whom the 49ers can consider with their first two picks:
- Zion Young, Missouri
- Akheem Mesidor, Miami
- Keldric Faulk, Auburn
- T.J. Parker, Clemson
- Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
- Gabe Jacas, Illinois
The fluidity and uncertainty of the draft ultimately mean any of those players' respective availabilities will be contingent upon who falls, or even if the Niners trade up or down.
Also worth noting, grabbing an edge rusher early in the draft shouldn't prevent San Francisco from looking at a veteran stopgap, someone who can hold the line while a rookie turns into an every-down defender within a couple of years' time.
That said, landing a long-term bookend pass-rusher has now climbed to the very top of Lynch's wish list, and it wouldn't be a shocker to see the 49ers go in that direction in the first two rounds.