The San Francisco 49ers have used the past several months to make changes to the roster and coaching staff. They were able to bring back Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator.
He held that same role with the 49ers from 2017-2020 and is looking to regain the spark held during those years. The 49ers made it a priority to add to their defensive line, trading for Bryce Huff and drafting Mykel Williams with the 11th overall pick.
They already have Nick Bosa as the superstar screaming off the edge but Saleh is known for his defensive line rotation and infatuation with adding more to that unit.
And the 49ers have the chance to add another player upfront after the Cleveland Browns released EDGE Ogbo Okoronkwo on Thursday, according to Mary Kay Cabot.
#Browns have released edge rusher Ogbo Okoronkwo and signed kicker Andre Szmyt, the club announced.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) June 26, 2025
49ers Should Keep Tabs on Ogbo Okoronkwo
Okoronkwo was a fifth-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams. Over his six-year career, he's played with the Rams, Texans, and Browns. Across 80 games (13 starts), he had 132 total tackles, 31 TFLs, 38 QB hits, and 17 sacks.
Last season with the Browns was the worst one of his career (45.3 overall grade and 55.4 pass-rush grade per PFF). He will look to get back to his former self, as he's posted an overall grade of at least 60 on PFF from 2019-2023.
Having extra pass rushers is never a bad thing in the NFL. Generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks is the key to having a productive defense, and Saleh knows that. He loves to rotate those guys upfront to keep them fresh throughout the course of a 60-minute game, so the idea of adding Okoronkwo is intriguing.
He's 30 years old and was just released, so bringing him in won't cost much. They made it a priority to add more bodies on the defensive front, and they have the chance to add one more before training camp starts next month.