49ers see two compelling free agent options who could help fix their biggest roster problem shine in Eagles' Super Bowl triumph
Those San Francisco 49ers players who could bring themselves to watch Super Bowl LIX likely will have done so with significant envy as the Philadelphia Eagles did what they could not on the biggest stage last year and routed the Kansas City Chiefs. Philadelphia claimed a second Super Bowl title in franchise history largely on […]
Those San Francisco 49ers players who could bring themselves to watch Super Bowl LIX likely will have done so with significant envy as the Philadelphia Eagles did what they could not on the biggest stage last year and routed the Kansas City Chiefs.
Philadelphia claimed a second Super Bowl title in franchise history largely on the strength of its defensive line, which utterly dominated the battle in the trenches, with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes never allowed to settle in the face of relentless pressure, which came despite the Eagles not sending a single blitz.
Success in getting to the opposing quarterback while rushing just four had long since been the 49ers' calling card. However, their play on the defensive line tailed off significantly in the 2024 season, with the Niners lacking the depth at edge rusher behind Nick Bosa and difference-makers at defensive tackle to consistently disrupt the passing game.
On top of that, their problems on the interior defensive line contributed significantly to 49ers' extremely porous run defense, which must be fixed if San Francisco is to contend in 2025.
Rebuilding the defensive line back into a force stands as the 49ers' primary concern this offseason and, while it might have been frustrating to see the Eagles achieve the ultimate goal using a formula they have previously consistently deployed, it should similarly have been heartening to see two potential free agent targets on the D-Line thrive.
Both edge rusher Josh Sweat and defensive tackle Milton Williams had a massive impact on the Eagles' shackling of Mahomes.
Sweat finished with seven pressures and 2.5 sacks, while Williams had two sacks of Mahomes, including one that forced a fumble, as he registered four pressures.
The 49ers were one of many teams guilty of passing on Sweat in the 2018 draft despite him displaying enticing explosiveness and bend coming out of Florida State. He eventually dropped to the Eagles with the 130th overall pick in the fourth round.
They have an opportunity to remedy that mistake this offseason, albeit at a likely high price following his Super Bowl heroics. At 27, Sweat would give the 49ers a dynamic speed rusher in his prime and allow Leonard Floyd to operate in more of a rotational capacity.
Williams, meanwhile, could effectively fill the void left by a former Eagle, Javon Hargrave, who is set to be released with a post-June 1 designation. Hargrave saw his 2024 season ended in Week 3 by a torn biceps muscle.
He would provide the Niners with an ascending penetrator on the interior. Williams had only five sacks in the regular season, but was fourth among all interior defensive linemen with at least 100 pass rush snaps with a pass rush win rate of 17.7 percent, per Pro Football Focus.
Pursuits of Sweat or Williams in free agency could quickly get very expensive after they each thrived on the biggest stage, but they each have the talent to rapidly improve a 49er defensive front that presented little for offenses to fear compared to previous years.
The Niners might view a draft loaded with defensive line talent as a better route to rebuilding a fearsome front, but general manager John Lynch, head coach Kyle Shanahan and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh may well have watched with excitement around what Sweat or Williams could do for their defense while observing them take over a game the 49ers are desperate to finally win.
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They’re still seen as a strong bet to contend.
