49ers’ potential 2026 breakout star after strong OTAs showing

Finding a way to stand up to Matthew Stafford and the Rams offense along with Sam Darnold and the Seahawks will be one of the keys to the way the season plays out for the Niners.

The defense will be pushed to the limit to hold those quarterbacks in check, and it seems quite likely that they won’t have edge rusher Nick Bosa at his best during the early part of the season. He is recovering from last season’s torn right ACL and says he is planning to be ready for the team’s season opener in Australia Sept. 10 against the Rams. Even if he is correct, it will take the 29-year-old at least a few weeks of regular-season competition before he can play a full game and demonstrate that he is at his best.

Odighizuwa has a chance to become a game-changing player for Niners

The player the 49ers will be counting on is defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, who has joined the 49ers after getting traded by the Dallas Cowboys for a third-round pick. Odighizuwa is going into his sixth NFL season after playing his first five years with the Cowboys.

Odighizuwa has been a very dependable player to this point in his career, but he has not been a game-changing star. It seems likely the 49ers will ask just a bit more from Odighizuwa this season.

He had 44 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 6 tackles for loss last year. Odighizuwa had 47 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 5 tackles for loss in 2024. The former Cowboy also had 1 forced fumble and 1 pass defensed. The Niners would like to see more from him in those two categories this season.

There has been much to like about Odighizuwa’s performance in the team’s OTAs. He demonstrated leadership right from the start, setting a standard for the other interior defensive linemen. He has impressed Shanahan with his effort and precision.

“He’s been one of the best leaders on the team so far,” Shanahan said, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic. “Just how he works, how thorough he is on everything and what he does on his own. Bringing guys along with him. Everyone from Dallas told us this, and it’s been that way. He’s been a stud.”

Niners are counting on Odighizuwa joining Warner and Greenlaw as defensive leaders

The presence of Odighizuwa on the defensive line should give the Niners some stability in that area that will go a long way in supporting middle linebacker Fred Warner and outside linebacker Dre Greenlaw.

Warner is a four-time All-Pro but he played in just six games last year due to a broken and dislocated ankle that he suffered last October. He has no ill effects at this point and has recovered from the injury.

If he can return to top form, the Niners will have a dynamic leader back in the lineup who had recorded 131 tackles, 7 passes defensed and 4 forced fumbles in 2024.

Greenlaw returns to the Niners after one year with the Denver Broncos. Greenlaw is coming off two injury-plagued seasons, but he had 120 tackles, 4 passes defensed and 5 tackles for loss in 2023, his last full season.

If Odighizuwa, Warner and Greenlaw can play cohesively and Bosa comes back in close to top form, the Niners may have the defensive weapons to compete against their key NFC West rivals.