We’ll talk about a player the 49ers might have been interested in during the 2024 trade deadline, a former second-rounder, and a former Niner.
As of today, the San Francisco 49ers have Nick Bosa at edge rusher and a handful of names that are rotational players. Yetur Gross-Matos is the closest player on the roster with ample NFL experience, but he missed the bulk of 2024 with an injury.
After that, Sam Okuayinonu would be the first player to sub in. From there, we get into names like Drake Jackson, Robert Beal Jr., Alex Barrett, and Jonathan Garvin. None of these names would prevent the Niners from using one of their first few picks on an edge rusher, nor should it keep the Niners out of the free agency market.
Let’s take a look at three veterans who get after the quarterback. The 49ers might be interested in either leading up to the NFL Draft or if the draft doesn’t fall their way, San Francisco could pursue post-draft.
Every name listed would go against the “We need to get younger” theme, but the Niners have often entered the regular season with at least one veteran opposite of Bosa. Will Robert Saleh’s second stint as defensive coordinator be any different, or do the 49ers believe the NFL Draft is deep enough at edge rusher where they could draft multiple starters/contributors in Year 1?
Here is the list of pass rushers in the event the 49ers don’t feel that way.
Za’Darius Smith
Smith was released by the Detroit Lions, so he wouldn’t count against the 49ers compensatory pick formula. He’ll be 33 in September. The Niners had an opportunity to trade for Smith ahead of the deadline last year when he was still with the Cleveland Browns but elected to stand pat.
Smith finished 2024 with nine sacks, a pressure percentage of 17.4 percent with Detroit, and a career-high quarterback hit percentage. The numbers look good for Smith, as his sack numbers are in line with Leonard Floyd’s production, but Smith nearly doubled the percentage of times he hit the quarterback and boasted a pressure rate that was 5.2 percent higher than Floyd.
Charles Omenihu
The 49ers acquired Omenihu from the Houston Texans after Saleh left. Still, if there’s any team that knows how to get the most out of Omenihu, it’s the Niners’ organization.
Omenihu missed the first half of the 2024 season after tearing his ACL in the 2023 playoffs. He was also suspended six games in 2023 for an alleged domestic violence incident.
Omenihu, who turns 28 in August, had a career-high in sacks the season after he left the 49ers. He always played hard, was strong against the run, and was multiple enough to kick inside and be productive.
In most instances, players fare better a season removed from an ACL injury. Omenihu signed a two-year contract worth up to $16 million. Coming off a season where he only had one sack, Omenihu would be affordable for a team looking to add talent at edge rusher.
Demarcus Walker
Walker turns 31 in September. The former second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft hasn’t lit up statistical profiles, but if we’re using Floyd as an example, Walker knocked down the quarterback at a significantly higher rate.
We’re listing Walker to give the 49ers an interior pass rusher. He was criminally misused by the Bears. At 280 pounds, Walker’s performance peaks when he’s rushing from the interior.
He’s a far cry from Arik Armstead, but that’s the type of player Walker is. A “big end” on base downs that kicks inside and excels. Walker finished with 20 run stops in 2024, which tied him for 14th among all edge rushers.
San Francisco’s inability to stop the run cost them opportunities to rush the passer last season. They need players like Walker to get to third down.