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The San Francisco 49ers have overhauled their defensive line in the space of a few days.
Gone are Arik Armstead — their longest-tenured player released after refusing a pay cut — and Javon Kinlaw. Kinlaw, the 49ers' first-round pick from 2020, signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets. Defensive ends Chase Young and Randy Gregory look unlikely to be re-signed and Clelin Ferrell has joined the Washington Commanders.
In their place have come Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos at defensive end, while at defensive tackle the 49ers signed Jordan Elliott after four seasons with the Cleveland Browns and struck a trade with the Houston Texans for Maliek Collins, with Kevin Givens retained on a one-year deal.
So just a day into the new league year the defensive front is vastly different, but in strong shape, albeit lacking the name brand outside of Nick Bosa and Javon Hargrave,
Yet there is a move the 49ers could potentially still make to add some more star power and put themselves in an outstanding position at edge rusher, though they are running out of time to make it.
The 49ers' unique opportunity
The Los Angeles Chargers are now cap compliant after releasing Mike Williams, a move they followed by restructuring edge Khalil Mack, but there remains the possibility they could release or trade star edge rusher Joey Bosa.
And that may present the 49ers with a unique opportunity to pair the Bosa brothers as part of a devastating pass rush duo.
Joey Bosa, the 2016 third overall pick of the Chargers, is due a $7 million roster bonus on Friday. As the Chargers move on to a new era under former 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles may look to avoid paying that money by making the difficult decision to move on.
The Chargers were this week reported by The Athletic's Diana Russini to be open to trade offers for the 28-year-old, though teams were said to be willing to wait to see if they will release him first.
The Chargers are open to trade offers for many veteran players including Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, per sources. There are teams interested but many around the league are willing to wait to see if the Chargers cut them soon.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 9, 2024
Having a pass rusher, albeit an extremely talented one, on the roster at cap number of $36.6 million after he played only nine games over the last two seasons is likely an appetising prospect for the Chargers. A release with a post-June 1 designation would save them $22 million against this year's cap while costing $14.6 million in dead money, per Over The Cap.
Still, given the elder Bosa's clear pedigree as a four-time Pro Bowler and the fact he is still in his prime years, there is reason to believe the Chargers may not want to part with him, or at least definitely not for nothing.
Time to force their hand?
The 49ers have always seemed the most likely destination for Bosa due to Nick's presence on the roster. The two train together in Florida in the offseason and mother Cheryl recently made clear how much she would love to see them play on the same team in a post on her Instagram story (h/t NBC Sports Bay Area).
However, with Friday's deadline fast approaching, the 49ers are against the clock and, rather than waiting any longer for the Chargers to essentially let an elite pass rusher hit the open market, it may be up to the Niners to force their hand with a trade offer.
How prepared the 49ers would be to part with draft capital for a pass rusher with a checkered injury history whose contract would need to be reworked is a matter for debate.
What is not in doubt, though, is that with both Bosas — who have 120.5 career sacks between them — healthy and on the field at the same time, an outside pass rush group also featuring another former first-round pick in Floyd, who has 39.5 sacks in the last four seasons, would be one of the most fearsome in the NFL.
The presence of Floyd and Gross-Matos would allow the 49ers to effectively spell both Bosas, limiting the prospect of injury and keeping them fresh to perform at their extremely high peaks.
It is a move that has long since been the stuff of fantasy for the 49ers and the Bosa family. Now there's a chance it could become a reality, but, if the Chargers don't show their hand, the Niners need to move quick to make it happen.
More must-reads:
- J.J. Watt addresses possibly ending retirement to play for Texans
- Joe Burrow shares 'support' for Bengals who requested trades
- The 'NFL MVP runners-up' quiz
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