San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch is going to have to pull off a miracle to maintain the level of competitiveness that fans have come to expect in recent years. His team is set to lose multiple starters after already having a few glaring holes to address.
The most pressing of those weaknesses might be the lack of depth on the edge. With both Mykel Williams and Nick Bosa recovering from injuries, and not much reliable production behind them, the Niners will need to bring in another quality edge defender this offseason.
An obvious fit just became available.
The Miami Dolphins released edge rusher Bradley Chubb to kick off a flurry of roster moves. Now, San Francisco has the perfect chance to solve one of its biggest weaknesses.
Bradley Chubb should be a top 49ers target after Dolphins release
The Dolphins held a fire sale on Monday, releasing big-name players like Chubb and Tyreek Hill. It's the start of a full rebuild for Miami, but it could lead to a key addition for the 49ers this offseason.
Chubb will hit the open market in free agency. While he is sure to have multiple suitors, the sweepstakes to sign him won't be as crowded as they may have been a year ago. The 29-year-old defender had a down year by his standards in 2025, producing just eight sacks despite playing in all 17 games.
Still, he was a double-digit sack player just a season ago. With at least a few years still ahead of him in his career, Chubb could be a great addition to a team with championship aspirations. Outside of Trey Hendrickson and Khalil Mack, he could be the top edge defender available in free agency this offseason.
The 49ers shouldn't hesitate to make a move. Even with a fully healthy duo of Bosa and Williams, the Niners lack a secondary pass-rushing threat. Williams could still be a quality player for years to come, but he has some development to do when it comes to pressuring opposing quarterbacks. The addition of Chubb could give San Francisco a dominant duo of pass-rushers on the edge while still letting Williams grow.
San Francisco was already linked to Chubb at the trade deadline in 2025, so there could be existing interest there. This is the kind of aggressive move that teams often have to make to get over the hump and win a championship.