Cheryl Bosa posted an edited graphic on social media earlier this month of her two sons standing side by side in San Francisco 49ers uniforms, and almost everybody expected the Bosa brothers to reunite in San Francisco this offseason.
Then John Lynch spoke at the NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix on Sunday and brought everyone back down to earth.
Asked about the possibility of adding Joey Bosa in free agency to pair with his younger brother Nick, the 49ers GM laughed and said: "I know that would make Mama Bosa happy, but I don't know if we can afford him."
Why the 49ers Can't Justify the Joey Bosa Price Tag
Joey Bosa is projected to command somewhere around $13.7 million annually on his next deal, according to Spotrac's market value tool. His 2025 production in Buffalo was solid, leading the NFL with five forced fumbles and recording five sacks in 15 games.
San Francisco has roughly $31 million in cap space on paper, but that number is going to change considerably depending on what happens with Trent Williams' contract renegotiation and a potential Brandon Aiyuk trade or release.
#49ers GM John Lynch on potentially signing Joey Bosa:
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) March 29, 2026
“I know that would make Mama Bosa happy, but I don't know if we can afford him."
Via: @LombardiHimself pic.twitter.com/lvfA9b3yC4
Lynch also has two first-round picks this cycle and a pass rush situation that should look dramatically different simply from the return of Nick Bosa and 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams, both of whom missed significant time last season with ACL tears.
The 49ers finished dead last in the NFL with just 20 sacks in 2025. Getting those two healthy again solves a significant portion of that problem without spending $13 million on a 31-year-old with an extensive injury history.
What Comes Next for Joey Bosa and the 49ers' Pass Rush
The elder Bosa hasn't had a 10-sack season since 2021, has missed 25 of 68 games over the past four years, and has dealt with injuries to his groin, foot, toe, back, hip, and hamstrings along the way.
He's accumulated 79 career sacks, including playoffs and remains a legitimate pass-rushing option for contending teams, just apparently not this one.
DE Joey Bosa is NOT expected to take a discount to join his brother on the 49ers, per @jenniferleechan
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) March 23, 2026
(h/t @NinerStats) pic.twitter.com/oPYaaJsLdN
Lynch was clear that the plan in San Francisco is to build the edge rush around Nick Bosa and Williams returning healthy, supplement through the draft (the 49ers hold picks 27 and 58), and potentially add a lower-cost veteran.
Joey Bosa will certainly find a home somewhere, and there's already been at least one AFC contender connected to his name.
Photo Credit: Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images