49ers can sign this pass-rusher without giving up on Drake Jackson

The 49ers need another pass-rusher to pair with Nick Bosa but still don't know what they have in Drake Jackson. Yet there's one still-available free agent who can help.

While not quite as intense as their search to find a No. 2 tight end to pair with George Kittle, the San Francisco 49ers' desire to land a No. 2 outside pass-rusher to pair with All-Pro edge Nick Bosa is pretty serious.

Entering 2023, the hope is that one of four players can fit the mold. It'll either be one of two castoff edge rushers in Austin Bryant or Clelin Ferrell, a rookie fifth-round draftee in Robert Beal Jr. or a second-year player who started strong his rookie year but flamed out down the stretch, Drake Jackson.

Jackson, whom the Niners grabbed in Round 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft, still has plenty of potential despite being a regular healthy scratch late last season and into the playoffs. And it would be unwise for San Francisco to abandon Jackson's development so soon.

That said, finding a solid pass-rusher to occupy the end spot opposite Bosa is still a looming problem the 49ers haven't truly addressed.

Niner Noise's Jeremy Wohlfart championed the idea of the Niners grabbing former Indianapolis Colts edge Yannick Ngakoue as the perfect edge rusher to fully legitimize San Francisco's pass rush, and that'd be a serious truth. If the 49ers could do that, it'd be legit unfair.

However, Ngakoue is likely going to command both starter's money and a starting role. The Niners don't have that kind of cash ($10.6 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap), and they'd probably not want to give up prematurely on Jackson either.

Instead, landing a rotational pass-rusher on the back end of his career might be a better idea.

And there's a player who could fit the bill.

49ers could ink veteran edge Melvin Ingram in NFL free agency

The days of edge Melvin Ingram being a top pass-rusher are long gone, although he did have a brief stint thriving alongside Bosa's elder brother, Joey Bosa of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Now, though, the 34-year-old Ingram is little more than a rotational piece who can't carry a lot of pass-rushing weight but still offers something to a team in need of supplementary help.

San Francisco is one such team, and we're not alone in making the connection.

Joe Tansey of Bleacher Report mentioned both Ngakoue and Ingram in a piece highlighting still-available free agents the 49ers could target. But, what separated Ingram from Ngakoue was the role and the price, both of which fit into what the Niners would want:

"Melvin Ingram is coming off a six-sack season with the Miami Dolphins. That was his highest sack total since 2019 with the Chargers.

Ingram can still be productive at this point in his career, and he might be a good insurance option for the 49ers to have alongside Bosa and new defensive tackle Javon Hargrave.

The 49ers can also plug into their connections in Miami to get a strong scouting report on Ingram and if he would fit their defensive style."

Whereas Ngakoue would probably command more money and a bigger role, Ingram would likely be significantly cheaper without jeopardizing Jackson's development.

In terms of a team needing to win now, while also preserving long-term development for young players like Jackson, the Niners going after Ingram makes a lot of sense.

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