The final piece is a veteran, situational pass rusher for the 2025 49ers
Robert Saleh is back in town, and the message for the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL draft was clear: beef up the defensive line and stop the run.
Several 49ers players have verbalized a thought process of “stop the run and have some fun.” You have to earn the right to rush the passer by stopping the run early and putting your team in a position to pin their ears back and get the quarterback on third and long or obvious passing situations.
Mykel Williams, CJ West, and Alfred Collins raised the run defense immediately, with room to grow as pass rushers in their NFL careers. Nick Bosa is the anchor of the defensive line, but there is a free agent who can be the bookend EDGE opposite of Bosa on passing downs.
Enter Za’Darius Smith.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Smith will turn 33 in 2025. However, given his last season in Cleveland and Detroit, Smith has plenty left in the tank. The 49ers’ likely starting defensive line will be Bosa, Williams, West, and Collins. Smith, as a situational pass rusher, while utilizing Williams’ flexibility to play inside, could be the recipe for a revitalized pass rush.
Smith played nine games in Cleveland and totaled 27 total pressures, five sacks, two QB hits, 20 hurries, 14 tackles, and a 71.1 pass-rushing grade on 204 pass-rushing snaps. Cleveland utilized him primarily as a pass rusher, with an almost two-to-one snap difference as a pass rusher and run defender.
Detroit traded for the veteran pass rusher following Aidan Hutchinson’s season-ending injury at the trade deadline. Including the NFC Divisional round against Washington, Smith played nine games for the Lions. In those nine games, Smith raised his play with 40 pressures, five sacks, five QB hits, 30 hurries, and a 76.3 pass-rushing grade on 241 pass-rushing snaps.
Playing to Smith’s strengths and revitalization, going to a playoff-contending team in Detroit was the key to his success as a Lion. Using Smith as a run defender wasn’t a priority for Aaron Glenn’s defense, as Smith played 82 snaps on run defense.
The 49ers need experience and immediate help on their defensive line. Smith’s contract would be a one-year deal with minimal money, as the 49ers should bet on Smith getting a jolt of energy joining the 49ers as a team that should be in the mix for a playoff spot.
The rookies should play as much as possible, but the secret to an improved pass-rushing unit could be betting on Smith only as a situational pass rusher. Banking on Saleh’s improved and evolved defensive scheme, coupled with Smith, is the way.