Andrew Buller-Russ
After returning to the playoffs following a one-year hiatus, now San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch has been busy trying to strengthen an already good roster. He’s made some big moves, including signing likely future Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans. However, the 49ers may not be done adding top talent quite yet.
Recently, The Athletic‘s 49ers insider Matt Barrows did a mailbag in which he was asked about the possibility of San Francisco signing Nick Bosa’s older brother, Joey this offseason. It’s Barrows’ belief that there’s a “good argument” for signing Joey to a contract.
“I think there’s a good argument for adding Joey Bosa,” Barrows wrote. “Given his age and injury history, the 49ers couldn’t count on him to be an every-down defensive end. But a situational pass rusher? He had a pass-rush win rate above 20 percent last year in Buffalo, which is pretty good. Maybe the 49ers — and other teams — are waiting until after the draft when it comes to Joey Bosa. If San Francisco can land a top edge, they probably don’t need him. If not, he makes more sense.”
Joey spent last season with the Bills, where he recorded five sacks across 15 starts. Yet, Bosa was also linked to the 49ers last offseason, before deciding to sign with Buffalo, which is perceived as an annual Super Bowl threat. Perhaps this time around, Joey gets a chance to team up with his brother in San Francisco, who is also an annual contender.
Even if the 49ers don’t view Joey as a full-time starter, the five-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher could still make an impact in a reduced role. Plus, with San Francisco hoping they can go on a deep playoff run, it’s probably wise not to overwork the 30-year-old who turns 31 in July. Keeping him healthy for the long haul could be the difference between an early playoff exit and achieving more sustained postseason success.
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