Dec 30, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch before the game against the Detroit Lions at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

One Late Free Agency Move the 49ers Must Avoid

Originally posted on San Francisco 49ers on SI
By Jose Sanchez | Last updated Mar 25, 2026 11:00 AM ET

The San Francisco 49ers have conducted themselves well since the beginning of free agency by using it to address their needs.

Too many teams make the mistake of chasing overpriced and overrated players. It ends up hurting them in the following season(s). You can't say that about the 49ers with their signings so far.

However, there is a chance they can still do that. There is one late free agency move they can make that will be foolish.

49ers must avoid this move

Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It's signing Joey Bosa. The 49ers wanted to make that move happen last year in free agency before the Buffalo Bills outbid them.

Reuniting Nick Bosa with his brother Joey is a dream of theirs, and I'm sure the 49ers' marketing team would love it as well. However, they need to refrain from adding him to their team.

According to NBC Sports Bay Area's Jennifer Lee Chan, Bosa is not willing to take a discount to sign with the 49ers. He doesn't care to team up with his brother at the cost of forfeiting cash.

That's not shocking at all. He jumped at the chance to play for the Bills once he was offered more. Plus, it's how he's been throughout his career from the moment he was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers.

If the 49ers want to pair up Joey with Nick, they will need to cash him out. They must not do that despite having ample salary cap space. Even if it is just a one-year deal with his money off the books next year.

He is not worth cashing out on. Bosa is a solid player, but his name carries more weight than his actual gameplay now. He's also an injury liability.

There isn't much sense in adding him. Yes, the 49ers need an edge rusher opposite Nick with Bryce Huff retired. But signing his brother Joey would be out of desperation.

That is what bad teams do in free agency. They act out of desperation and spend so much to address a need that it hurts them.

The 49ers wouldn't be matching the value of what Bosa brings to the field, and that's assuming he can even consistently be on the field. The odds are that he's not.

It's best if the 49ers look in another direction at edge rusher. Leave the dream of having the Bosa brothers play together to nothing more than that.

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This article first appeared on San Francisco 49ers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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