The San Francisco 49ers could add a couple of key veteran free agents this offseason ahead of Week 1. With an NFL-high $72.4 million in salary cap space, San Francisco has the money to make some moves and fortify positions of need before the season begins.

CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell named the 49ers as an ideal landing spot for three veterans still looking for a new team, including one familiar face. Podell wrote that edge rushers Jadaveon Clowney and Joey Bosa, as well as ex-49ers receiver Deebo Samuel, would all be great fits in San Francisco.

The San Francisco 49ers ranked last in the NFL in team sacks in 2025, and their 1.18 sacks per game now stands as the lowest by a team that made the postseason. Yes, San Francisco gets both 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year edge rusher Nick Bosa (torn ACL) and 2025 11th overall pick edge rusher Mykel Williams (torn ACL and torn meniscus) back in 2026. Adding a healthy, proven pass rush threat along the edge in Clowney would relieve some of the urgency on those two to rush back from their injuries. Plus, Clowney already has plenty of pass-rush chemistry with new 49ers defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa after suiting up together in Dallas last season.

It would make all the sense in the world for Samuel to come back home to San Francisco. Kyle Shanahan will certainly look to lighten running back Christian McCaffrey‘s workload after 413 touches in the regular season. That’s the most in a season since Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray‘s 449 back in 2014. McCaffrey also turns 30-years-old on June 7. Bringing back Samuel to fill in for McCaffrey on some of the checkdowns and screens in Shanahan’s offense could maximize the former’s skill set while preserving the latter for postseason football. Samuel would also be insurance for the inevitable midseason injury for any of the following trio: Ricky Pearsall, Christian Kirk or Mike Evans.

Would the 49ers sign all three? Maybe, although it’s unclear if the elder Bosa is even thinking about football at the moment. Samuel would be a fun reunion for the 49ers and his role would be significantly reduced in a crowded skill position unit. But maybe that’s a good thing. As for Clowney, that would be most intriguing play as a mercenary edge rusher for a team that lacks a lot of surefire punch at the moment.

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San Francisco has a lot of wiggle room this offseason in terms of salary cap space, which makes their odds of adding more pieces that much more likely as the teams careen toward the 2026 season.

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Analyst lists 49ers as ideal landing spot for 3 veteran free agents