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.
You wanna play with your brother? Take a pay cut. Period.
Go the opposite direction and sign with LA
Joey Bosa looks a lot like Joe Walsh
Ordinary average guy
He’d still be a Charger if he hadn’t had injury issues. He’s not gonna get teams to pay for past production.
Way overrated.
He was a good addition for the Bills and forced the most fumbles in the league last year. Not 21 again, but he’s still got an edge if used in the right situations.
When? In 2026? I don’t know who is pushing Joey Bosa in this current year. He did, however, have a pretty good year as a secondary pass rusher on a new team. Five sacks, and just as many forced fumbles. It’s good production as a non-lead rusher at age 30.
EDIT: to clarify, Sherminator, this is not directed at your comment, but the one above.
The 49ers need a twitchy EDGE who specializes rushing the passer using their speed. Joey Bosa would be a solid pick-up, but the 49ers already have Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Keion White, and Sam O.
They need someone in the draft Kocurek can develop. In year 1, ideally this rookie will be able to come in on obvious passing downs, and then can move Mykel inside to form a very solid four man front of N.Bosa, Osa, Mykel, and whichever prospect they draft.
If they draft a WR or OT in the 1st Round, then they could potentially draft a guy like EDGE rusher Romello Height, Malaki Lawrence, Zion Young, or Cashius Howell wouldn’t be a bad pick if they decide to go EDGE rusher in the 1st.
While I do think it is an important pick for the 49ers, right now you are going to be asking this prospect to perform a very specialized role. Quite frankly, I believe they would be able to get better use out of an OT/OG, WR, or S in the first 2 rounds, and then they can use one of their four 4th Round picks drafting a speed rusher like the kid from Kentucky.
Ideally, you always want to ne drafting for the best available player, so I believe it just depends on how the draft shakes out. For example, I highly doubt it would ever happen, but if A.Mesidor were to fall to pick #27, the 49ers would almost certainly run to turn their pick in.
So, I guess we will just ahve to wait and see, but either way, I just di not think that Joey Bosa is a real need for the 49ers. He would be a luxury for them at this point, and if that is the case, then he would have to take a discount. I think we all know neither Bosa has ever nor will ever take(n) a discount on any of their contracts they will sign or have signed. Lol…