49ers Unlikely To Sign DE Joey Bosa

Shortly after Joey Bosa‘s 2025 release, the 49ers naturally showed interest. Nick Bosa‘s team could make another push at reuniting the brothers this time around, but that should not be expected.

Joey Bosa took a one-year deal to join the Bills for this past season. The longtime Charger operated as a full-time starter and managed 17 combined regular and postseason appearances. He remains on the open market at this time, but a trip to the Bay Area is not something 49ers general manager John Lynch is anticipating.

“I know that would make Mama Bosa happy,” Lynch said at the league meeting (via Vic Tafur of The Athletic), “but I don’t know if we can afford him.”

San Francisco currently has over $31MM in cap space. That figure can change dramatically if a new deal can be worked out with left tackle Trent Williams, something Lynch said could be coming soon. A Brandon Aiyuk trade or release will also significantly alter the 49ers’ financial situation, and moving on prior to June 1 would lower the team’s cap space for 2026. Clarity on those fronts will go a long way in determining the moves Lynch can make over the remainder of the offseason.

Finding a long-term complement for Nick Bosa has long been a challenge for the 49ers. The former No. 2 pick has been productive when healthy, although he was limited to just three games in 2025. Injuries have been a concern in Joey Bosa’s career as well. The older of the brothers only logged 13 games between the 2022 and ’23 campaigns, but he proved to be more durable during his final Bolts season and his lone year in Buffalo.

Nick Bosa and 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams will be counted to anchor the 49ers’ pass rush when on the field in 2026 and beyond. Joey Bosa – who secured $12MM in guarantees from the Bills – would offer plenty of experience along the edge and a San Francisco signing would reunite him with his brother for the first time since they were in high school. A deal elsewhere in the NFL appears to be more likely, though.