The San Francisco 49ers have already been aggressive in free agency. The addition of Mike Evans could take an already dangerous offense into unstoppable territory.
But general manager John Lynch's work isn't quite done yet.
Even if both Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams are fully healthy entering the 2026 season, the Niners need to add another edge rusher to their rotation.
As the dust settles from the first wave of free agency, a reunion between San Francisco and Leonard Floyd is becoming too enticing to ignore. The 49ers can reunite the veteran defender with Raheem Morris with one low-cost move.
49ers can reunite with Leonard Floyd for just $8.9 million in free agency
Floyd only spent one season in San Francisco, but he was electric during the short stint. His 8.5 sacks were one of the few bright spots of a Niners team that was decimated by injuries following their Super Bowl run. Despite his dominant play, the veteran was released by the team in a cost-cutting move.
The 49ers attempted to replace Floyd's production with Williams and Bryce Huff, but the decision to let Floyd go proved to be a mistake. Huff has already retired, and Williams still has a long way to go before reaching his potential.
Floyd signed with the Atlanta Falcons under then-head coach Raheem Morris, serving as a veteran presence in a young group of edge rushers. His production took a dip as he played behind the Falcons' pair of first-round edge defenders. After one year, Atlanta let him hit the free-agent market yet again.
Now, Floyd's potential reunion with his former head coach in San Francisco just makes too much sense.
He is familiar with Morris' scheme and already has chemistry with other members of the 49ers defense. At 33 years old, his snap count may be somewhat limited. While he likely wouldn't be a full-time starter, the pass-rusher could provide some much-needed depth. His presence would allow Bosa and Williams to rotate more, keeping them fresh throughout the season.
Spotrac estimates that Floyd will cost just around $8.9 million per year in free agency. At that cost, there is no reason for the 49ers to hesitate. He could be the perfect addition to Morris' defense and would allow Lynch more flexibility in the upcoming NFL Draft.
This is an obvious move for San Francisco to make in the second wave of free agency.