SANTA CLARA, Calif. — It’s become an annual task for the 49ers: Find a defensive end to line up on the flank opposite Nick Bosa.
Fortifying the interior spots also is a must this offseason. Overall, the 49ers’ defensive line rotation needs to be restocked, either by re-signing their own players or ushering in a younger group, all of which could be done in the upcoming free agency or next month’s draft.
Before Bosa arrived as a 2019 rookie, the 49ers made a pricey move to trade for and sign Dee Ford as their other starting defensive end, and that tandem helped them reach the Super Bowl. But Ford’s career was derailed by a back issue, and the 49ers have forged ahead by deploying flash-in-the-pan edge rushers opposite Bosa, who won NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors last season for leading the 49ers’ defense within a win of the Super Bowl.
