49ers hope Leonard Floyd is finally the answer opposite Nick Bosa

After years of different names, the 49ers hope their free-agent pickup of Leonard Floyd will bolster the pass rush opposite Nick Bosa.

The San Francisco 49ers have tried multiple times to find a long-term, high-quality pass-rusher to go opposite their All-Pro edge, Nick Bosa.

For the most part, those efforts have failed.

It didn't work with edge Dee Ford, while others like Arden Key, Charles Omenihu and Samson Ebukam had mostly modest results on a short-term basis. With the Niners poised to lose defensive ends Clelin Ferrell, Randy Gregory and Chase Young entering 2024, general manager John Lynch and Co. were presented with yet another offseason in which the defensive line needed serious reinforcement.

Particularly after San Francisco made the difficult decision to part ways with its longest-tenured player, defensive tackle Arik Armstead, after failing to reach an agreement on a restructured deal.

Yet the money gained from those hard choices ultimately allowed the 49ers to make a big splash at the opening of free agency, 2024.

And it came in the form of a defender who tormented the Niners for plenty of years, edge Leonard Floyd.

49ers land Leonard Floyd on a 2-year deal that's affordable

Ideally, an already-old San Francisco squad wouldn't focus on landing players who are on the wrong side of 30 years old, but the 31-year-old Floyd is still highly productive, boasting at least nine sacks each year over the previous four seasons, split between the Los Angeles Rams from 2020 through 2022 and the Buffalo Bills last year.

While he has four career sacks against the 49ers, fans will be happy to know he has seven career sacks against the Seattle Seahawks, all part of the 58 regular-season total he's had since beginning his career with the Chicago Bears back in 2016.

As reported by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Floyd is joining the Niners on a two-year deal that's worth up to $24 million:

Related story: 49ers free agency tracker 2024: Signings, departures and live updates

B-level pass-rushers can often get $12 million annually, and Floyd is arguably on the fringes of being on that group at this stage of his career.

However, looking at the previous four seasons, that kind of production suggests otherwise.

Now, the byproduct of Floyd's addition is likely that San Francisco allows the majority (or all) of that trio -- Ferrell, Gregory and Young -- to walk in free agency. And it's also a good sign the 49ers are deeming two-year pro edge Drake Jackson as merely a role player after underwhelming since being drafted in 2022.

As far as Floyd joining the Niners, who are in win-now mode, it's the perfect addition.

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