Five top edge rusher prospects 49ers could target at No. 27 in 2026 NFL Draft

INDIANAPOLIS — When the 49ers convene Thursday along the Lucas Oil Stadium sideline for the defensive-line workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine, one number will dominate every conversation: 20. That is the sack total San Francisco produced in 2025, a figure that placed the franchise dead last in the league and a full 48 behind the league-leading Denver Broncos. With Myles Garrett setting an NFL-record 23 sacks by himself in Cleveland, the 49ers’ inability to harass quarterbacks has become the roster’s most urgent liability.

The solution may arrive on April 23 at the 27th overall selection of the 2026 NFL Draft. General manager John Lynch and the personnel department are expected to keep the pick, and while blue-chip rushers such as Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, Texas Tech’s David Bailey, Miami’s Rueben Bain and Auburn’s Keldric Faulk are unlikely to escape the top 20, a second tier of edge defenders offers both immediate help and long-term upside. Here are the five names most frequently linked to the 49ers in Indianapolis:

1. **Miles Mesidor, Miami (FL)** A six-year college veteran who logged his first two seasons at West Virginia, Mesidor turns 25 in April and is viewed as one of the most pro-ready pass rushers in the class. He closed 2025 with 12.5 sacks and was virtually unblockable during Miami’s playoff run. Concerns about his arm length are offset by elite hand usage and nonstop effort. Several clubs picking ahead of San Francisco covet his plug-and-play traits, so his availability at 27 is no guarantee.

2. **T.J. Parker, Clemson** Parker’s junior film (11 sacks, six forced fumbles) is more tantalizing than his senior production (five sacks, zero forced fumbles), but evaluators left Mobile raving about his Senior Bowl week. The 6-foot-4 edge setter showed a refined counter sequence and the ability to convert speed to power, traits that could flourish in the 49ers’ wide-nine alignment.

3. **Jordan Thomas, USC** Thomas is the classic “designated pass-rush” projection. At 6-foot-2 and 248 pounds, he lacks the sand in his pants to hold up against NFL run fronts, yet his burst and flexibility produced 27 career sacks split between Bowling Green and Texas A&M. If San Francisco opts for a rotational rusher who can close games on third down, Thomas offers value late on Day 1.

4. **Eli Howell, Texas A&M** Howell’s calling card is ankle-bending bend. The former Bowling Green transfer pairs loose hips with an explosive first step, giving tackles fits when the down-and-distance tilts toward the pass. His slender frame raises durability questions, but defensive coordinator Steve Wilks could deploy him as a wide-9 specialist to protect leads.

5. **Darius Young, Missouri** Young’s 6-foot-6, 280-pound frame and 16.5 tackles-for-loss make him an intriguing chess piece who can reduce inside on nickel downs. The red flags are off the field: prosecutors in Columbia last month charged him with driving while intoxicated after he was clocked at 64 mph in a 50-mph zone and refused sobriety tests. Teams must weigh the character evaluation against his rare length and power.

San Francisco’s current depth chart underscores the need. Nick Bosa and 2024 first-rounder Mykel Williams are rehabbing torn ACLs. Bryce Huff recorded four sacks in the first seven games but disappeared down the stretch. Mid-season acquisition Keion White is recovering from surgery to repair a gunshot wound to his left ankle, leaving his 2026 availability murky.

The 49ers have historically mined the later rounds for pass-rush gems, yet the urgency created by last season’s 20-sack nadir could push Lynch toward an immediate contributor. Thursday’s combine drills will provide the next data point as the franchise searches for the one piece capable of transforming its dormant pass rush into a quarterback’s nightmare once again.