The 49ers saw the Browns give them an opportunity to make their pass rush even more potent this week.
The 49ers’ depth at edge rusher is in a much stronger spot with the additions they have made this offseason.
Having spent the 11th overall pick on Mykel Williams and traded for Bryce Huff, the 49ers have improved the support for Nick Bosa and boosted their long-term health at the position.
Along with Bosa, Williams and Huff, Yetur Gross-Matos is a lock to make the 53-man roster, while Sam Okuayinonu will be expected to do the same after an impressive 2024 in which he displayed impressive versatility.
Yet behind that quintet, Robert Beal Jr. could be viewed as being on the roster bubble. Beal has shown little pass rush upside since being picked in the fifth round in 2023, and the 49ers now have the opportunity to put themselves in an even better spot to affect the quarterback consistently in 2025 by signing a former division rival.
Ogbo Okoronkwo was this week released by the Cleveland Browns, creating the possibility for the 49ers to acquire the former Los Angeles Rams draft pick to swell their edge rush depth.
There’s reason to believe the 49ers would be intrigued by that possibility.
Okoronkwo only had three sacks last season, while his total of 24 pressures was his lowest since 2021, per Pro Football Focus. However, he has continually flashed the explosiveness that was evident coming out of college in 2018 and also boasts a well-refined arsenal of moves and the ability to bend around the edge.
Ogbo Okoronkwo (#54) with his ears pinned back pic.twitter.com/T5voK3rboG
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) October 18, 2023
His is a skill set that fits the 49ers extremely well, and defensive line coach Kris Kocurek would likely be confident he could help Okoronkwo recapture his 2022 season form.
In that lone season for the Houston Texans, Okoronkwo ranked 15th among edge defenders with at least 100 pass rush snaps in pass rush grade. Additionally, he was 16th in pass rush win rate (16.5%).
If the 49ers could get him winning his rushes at that kind of rate while operating as a rotational pass rusher, their defensive line would be in an extremely strong position.
Having already acquired Huff to operate in a rotational role, Okoronkwo could be seen as something of a superfluous addition.
But, by signing Okoronkwo, the 49ers could claim to be six deep in terms of edge rushers who can affect the quarterback regularly. On top of that, his arrival could facilitate Gross-Matos and Okuayinonu being used as an interior rushers for the majority of their pass-rushing snaps.
Okoronkwo’s stock is at a low ebb after being cut at this point in the calendar. Yet that should make him an affordable potential signing and, given the impact he has shown he is capable of making in previous years, it could prove to be a very astute one.