There's no doubt that it was a down year for the San Francisco 49ers and head coach Kyle Shanahan, going just 6-11, marking their first losing season since 2020 and missing the playoffs.
One area that they struggled in was the pass rush, which finished the year tied for 23rd in sacks (37), tied for 17th in quarterback knockdowns (43), tied for 27th in hurries (37) and 27th in pressures (117).
To try and help fix this, Alex Kay of Bleacher Report suggests that the 49ers should facilitate a trade to acquire EDGE Jadeveon Clowney from the Carolina Panthers.
"The San Francisco 49ers could be in the market for Clowney," Kay wrote. "There has been a clear need in the Bay Area to assist superstar Nick Bosa in the defensive trenches. The team didn't shy away from addressing that issue during the 2025 draft — utilizing a first-round pick to nab edge-rusher Mykel Williams — but San Francisco could use more veterans in the mix."
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) and Carolina Panthers EDGE Jadeveon Clowney (7).
© Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Throughout his 11 seasons, Clowney has proven to be a viable pass rusher for almost any team, which has helped him earn three Pro Bowl appearances and $95 million in career earnings.
As a member of the Panthers in 2024, he started 14 games while accumulating 46 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hits, 11 hurries, five quarterback knockdowns and 22 pressures.
He could be a big addition to a 49ers defense which had its ups and downs last season, ranking eighth in total yards per game allowed (317.4) and tied for 27th in points per game allowed (25.6).
It's not as though the 49ers would be taking on some huge financial burden either, as Clowney is entering the final season of a two-year, $20 million contract.
