​The San Francisco 49ers have been tied to a number of veteran pass rushers as speculation swirls, but with training camp just around the corner, the team has not yet dipped into the free-agent market to sign a veteran who could boost their pass rush. Last season the 49ers notched 20 team sacks, and they are hopeful that the returns of Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams will help lift that total. They also added Romello Height in the 2026 NFL Draft. Given all that, the question becomes whether these moves will be enough to raise the sack total from a year ago.
KNBR’s Larry Krueger argues that they won’t be enough, and he’s urging San Francisco to pursue veteran pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney. “Jadeveon Clowney is 33, and he’s been really productive recently,” Krueger said in a July 9 video on his YouTube channel. “He’s posted 23.5 sacks over the past three seasons in the NFL. This guy’s still getting it done. He’s also very versatile. You can line him up on the right side, on the left side, or in the A-gaps; you can walk him up on the line of scrimmage like a linebacker in a five-man front. You can deploy him as a stacked linebacker on the second level or as an off-ball linebacker.”
Krueger emphasized that Clowney’s versatility would give the Niners multiple looks, and the 23.5 sacks over the last three seasons demonstrate that he still has a productive edge presence. He pointed out that Clowney racked up 8.5 sacks last year with the Dallas Cowboys, whose defense was, by his assessment, among the league’s weakest, even with the coaching influence of Matt Eberflus, who has since moved to San Francisco. Krueger also noted that Clowney would fit as a short-term fix and would not create long-term salary-cap concerns for next season. “So I think we’ve seen [Clowney] be a true mercenary,” Krueger added. “He’ll go wherever somebody is willing to cut the check [and] is scheme-versatile. He’s played in Baltimore [and] Houston [and] Dallas. [Clowney is] a proven veteran pass rusher who’s versatile and productive. He’s a little younger than Von Miller. He’s a little better than Kyle Van Noy. I don’t think Joey Bosa is an option. He’s far cheaper than trading for a Maxx Crosby or even an Alex Highsmith.”
In terms of last season’s production, Clowney played 372 snaps with the Cowboys and earned a 79.2 overall PFF defensive grade. He generated 40 total pressures, nine sacks, 29 hurries, two quarterback hits, and one forced fumble. He also recorded 26 solo tackles against the run. Krueger contends that Clowney’s continued production into his 30s makes him a sensible short-term addition, reducing the risk of long-term cap complications for the 49ers.
“Clowney’s a vet, right?” Krueger concluded. “He’s been there, done that, entering his 13th NFL season; he’s never had double-digit sacks in any single year. But he’s still capable of making a significant impact as a pass rusher and as a versatile defender who can contribute in multiple alignments. For a team aiming to bolster its edge rush without destabilizing its financial future, Clowney remains an intriguing option.”