No need for the 49ers to overcomplicate things.
Whatever needs were addressed in the offseason, there remains the stick-out-like-a-sore-thumb stat that needs a serious upgrade if they are to be taken seriously as a contender to go deep into the postseason and reach another Super Bowl.
The 49ers had 20 sacks in 17 games in 2025, yet went 12-5 and won a wild card playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles before getting taken to the woodshed by eventual champion Seattle in the divisional round.
They’ll be looking hard at any and all edge rushers when the NFL Draft takes place April 23-25.
When Nick Bosa went down with a torn ACL in Week 3, much of the 49ers pass rush went with him. Even without Bosa, 20 sacks is a pathetic number for a franchise that through the years has included fearsome edge players such as Tommy Hart, Cedrick Hardman, Charles Haley and Aldon Smith. A team that got short stints from players such as Tim Harris and Kevin Greene in past years has been unable to give Bosa much help.
The past several years has seen the likes of Javon Hargrave, Arden Key, Charles Omenihu, Samson Ebukam, Clelin Ferrell take a turn. All did some occasional work as an interior rusher, less so for Ebukam than the others.
It’s not as if the 49ers haven’t had some solid players capable of that — DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead come to mind. They even used their No. 11 overall pick last year on Mykel Williams, who ideally will move inside on passing downs to make way for a jet rusher to attack on the outside.
The 49ers haven’t had that player opposite Bosa since Dee Ford, whose time and effectiveness was cut short by injury. They never found it with Robert Beal Jr., a fourth-round draft pick who is now off the roster. Last week, the 49ers signed Cameron Sample, who in his five years with the Bengals played — you guessed it — outside and inside.
Could a pure edge rusher be found where the 49ers are scheduled to pick at No. 27?
Daniel Jeremiah, the NFL Network’s draft analyst, thinks so.
In a national conference call Tuesday, Jeremiah touted Central Florida’s Malachi Lawrence as a good match for team looking to shed its reputation as sad sacks when it comes to edge rushers.
Jeremiah has Lawrence as his 46th best overall player, but among a group of potential edge rushers that could be available to the 49ers that includes Akheem Mesidor of Miami, T.J. Parker of Clemson, Keldric Faulk of Auburn and Zion Young of Missouri.
He deems Lawrence as someone who could “crash the party” in the first round and thinks the 49ers could be interested.
Getty Images
Clelin Ferrell (96) records one of the 49ers’ 20 season sacks against Jackson Dart of the New York Giants.
“He’s built to play in that jet front, that attack front that they use with (defensive line coach) Kris Kocurek,” Jeremiah said. “Just line him out wide and let him go. He’s got big-time juice. He ran 4.52 (40-yard dash), there’s twitch and he’s 6-4 1/2. He’s got the size and the length. Violent hands. If you told me I could pick one scheme for Malachi Lawrence, it would be San Francisco.”
In an era where transfers are common, Lawrence stayed at UCF for five years and wasn’t a starter until the last two. He finished with 20 career sacks and 28 tackles for loss with three forced fumbles. In terms of measurables, Lawrence’s 40 time was third among edge rushers, he had the second-highest vertical jump at 40 inches and the second-best broad jump (10 feet, 10 inches).
Whether Lawrence at 253 pounds would get engulfed by tackles that outweigh him by 60 pounds or more is a concern, as is his ability to play the run. But keep in mind the 49ers aren’t — and shouldn’t be — looking for an every-down lineman and another Mr. Outside/Inside.
There’s always a danger in drafting for need, but with the 49ers the need for an outside pass rush presence opposite Bosa is so obvious it can’t be overlooked.
With Williams on some downs to go along with Alfred Collins and C.J. West, all selected in last year’s draft, the 49ers should be plenty stout in the middle. They’ll be able to push the pocket from the middle while setting up opposing offenses for a quick left or right hook coming from the outside.
Lawrence told the media following the UCF pro day he’d been in contact with the Patriots, Raiders, Jets and Titans but had a full slate of 30 visits, some in person and some remotely.
NOTABLE
— Jeremiah believes there’s a “boatload” of tight end prospects that could be available on Day 3. The 49ers have starting tight end George Kittle recovering from a torn Achilles and four selections in the fourth round — Nos. 127, 133, 138 and 139.
— For what it’s worth, Jeremiah predicted the 49ers would take offensive lineman Grey Zabel last season at No. 11. The 49ers took Williams and Zabel went on to be an instant starter in Seattle. In 2024, Jeremiah’s first-round pick for the 49ers was wie receiver Xavier Worthy at No. 31. Worthy went to Kansas City at No. 28 and the 49ers selected Ricky Pearsall.