One of the bigger mistakes the San Francisco 49ers made this offseason was not doing enough to address the outside pass rush.
Nick Bosa is returning from last year's ACL tear and has practiced minimally in training camp, while second-year pro Mykel Williams, too, is working his way back from a torn ACL and likely starts off the regular season on an injury list.
Aside from lesser-known names like Keion White and Sam Okuayinonu, the Niners don't exactly boast a ton of proven options to rush from the outside.
But they could soon, provided the Dallas Cowboys play along.
Dallas' defensive front is crowded, particularly after adding future Hall of Famer Von Miller. And that translates into the edge-rushing Sam Williams being on the bubble.
Should the Cowboys part ways with their Round 2 pick from the 2022 NFL Draft, San Francisco might be inclined to react quickly and take a flier.
Sam Williams should be on 49ers' radar if Cowboys cut him
Williams, now 27 years old, flashed plenty of promise his rookie season, notching four sacks and finishing fifth in the voting for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Unfortunately, after tallying another 4.5 sacks his sophomore year, injuries and inconsistencies led to him being something of an afterthought.
The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder missed all of 2024 before turning into a rotational player over the course of 2025, and it might now be the case where he needs a change of scenery.
That's what Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport proposed in listing Williams as a potential cut candidate:
Williams may have to jump-start his career elsewhere. Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, rookie Malachi Lawrence and newly signed Von Miller appear to be locks for the 53-man roster. That could leave only one or two spots for Williams, Marist Liufau and James Houston, and Liufau is a core special teams contributor.
Williams would no doubt quickly get scooped up, but the truth is there may not be room for him in Dallas anymore.
As for the 49ers, they're likely looking to round out the bottom end of their defensive ends with relatively unknown players like Ogbo Okoronkwo and undrafted rookie James Thompson Jr. Williams possesses a greater upside, and reuniting him with now-Niners defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa has its merits, too.
All Williams would need is some additional polish and a niche role, which is what our FanSided friend and colleague, Jerry Trotta over at The Landry Hat, told Niner Noise:
Williams is a great athlete with a tireless motor, but he doesn't use that athleticism to his advantage when rushing the passer, often rushing to contact. If he channels more discipline, he can be a strong rotational edge rusher. He is also good for multiple splash plays on special teams every year so his value extends beyond just his ability to rush the passer.
Should Dallas recognize there's not enough room for Williams, subsequently parting ways with him, San Francisco shouldn't hesitate to explore the addition.
The need is simply too great to pass up.
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