Niners Given Clear Alternative to Maxx Crosby, Joey Bosa
· Yahoo Sports
It's crunch time in the NFL offseason as teams look to make their final additions to rosters through free agent signings. The San Francisco 49ers still have a clear need at edge rusher.
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Niners fans are restless as they wait for the eventual answer at the position, but it does not appear that general manager John Lynch is that concerned about the team's apparent vacancy. The 49ers still have options to fill that need.
KNBR’s Larry Krueger provided an interesting alternative to the big-name edge rushers that have been tied to San Francisco this offseason. He said the following on one that could be just what the Niners need in veteran edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney.
“Jadeveon Clowney is 33, and he’s been really productive recently, He’s had 23.5 sacks over the past three seasons in the NFL. This guy’s still getting it done. He’s also very versatile. You can line him up on the right side, on the left side or in the A-gaps; you can walk him up on the line of scrimmage like a linebacker in a five-man front. You can play him as a stacked linebacker on the second level or as an off-ball linebacker.
There are a lot of different things you can do with Jadeveon Clowney. He’s very versatile, and those 23.5 sacks over the past three seasons show he still has it. Plus, he had 8.5 sacks last year with the Dallas Cowboys, whose defense was horrendous, the worst in football. But Matt Eberflus was there, and now Eberflus, who coached Clowney in Dallas, is in San Francisco.”
San Francisco 49ers defensive ends Nick Bosa (97) and Mykel Williams (98) work on their pass rushing skills during the second day of training camp. D. Ross Cameron-Imagn ImagesClowney's 8.5 sack season last year flew under the radar, but it highlights just have impactful he could be for the Niners in 2026. The Cowboys' willingness to part with Clowney, however, may send off red flags for those who are skeptical about the potential signing.
What is for certain is that Clowney is no Maxx Crosby at this stage of his career. He is more akin to what Joey Bosa might bring, but even that might discredit how much quality football Bosa has left in his own right.
Whether or not Clowney can do it again is the big question in regard to if the signing is worthwhile. There's no guarantee he will be able to withstand the rigors of another NFL season unscathed. Even so, he is an option worth monitoring as the Niners look to build the best possible roster for the 2026 season.