In the days following the 2026 NFL Draft, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch has been under fire. The Niners made numerous questionable selections and left obvious roster needs untouched. After a string of disappointing draft classes, patience is starting to wear thin among fans.
There's still time to recover before the start of the season, though. Plenty of talented veterans are available in free agency, and the Niners have enough salary cap space to make some moves.
These three remaining free agents could help recover some of the trust that this regime lost during draft weekend.
3 free agents 49ers can sign to recover from NFL Draft mistakes
EDGE Joey Bosa
Give the people what they want. A defensive front highlighted by the Bosa brothers wouldn't just be an easy sell; it would give the 49ers an added level of threat in their pass rush. Mykel Williams struggled in his rookie season. With a player like Joey Bosa on the roster, Williams could continue to develop without the pressure of being the only option.
The elder Bosa brother has a market value of $13.1 million, according to Spotrac, but that number could drop as the offseason goes on. At the right price, this should be an obvious move for San Francisco to make.
DT D.J. Reader
While adding to the pass rush is important, continuing to solidify the run defense should be Lynch's top priority. Veteran defensive tackle D.J. Reader, one of the better run stuffers in the league over the last few years, is still sitting in free agency. San Francisco has improved its interior this offseason, but it's done so with smaller, gap-shooting types like Osa Odighizuwa and Gracen Halton.
Reader would bring a strong presence on early downs, allowing the rest of the defensive front to do its best work.
OT Cam Robinson
The Niners may have kicked the can down the road with Trent Williams, but they still need to add depth at offensive tackle. Unless they want to trust fifth-round rookie Enrique Cruz Jr. as their swing tackle, they'll need to bring in another veteran at the position.
Former top-40 pick Cam Roinson could be the best option available. He's played left tackle for most of his career and could be a decent backup for Williams. While the projected $13 million price tag is rich, the 49ers should at least consider making the move.
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