The 2026 offseason is upon us and San Francisco 49ers mock drafts are in full swing. It seems like both offensive and defensive lines will need improvement if they want to compete with their NFC West rivals.
That brings us to the question: which one?
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No doubt both were improved from 2025 in some ways, and no doubt both will be getting new pieces in the draft and perhaps free agency. But which would we prioritize if we had to choose between the two?
Two things are clear: The first is that the 49ers need to work on their pitiful sack total from 2025 and get more pass rushers. We’ve discussed adding Joey Bosa and others to the line on Friday. With both Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams healthy, the defensive line should be more efficient than it was at the end of the season. Even with them and Fred Warner, there is still work to be done. Because you know, sacking the quarterback is kind of efficient.
And the second: the Seattle Seahawks defense isn’t going to get any worse. The 49ers need to have an answer for it. Seattle wisely didn’t try to chase other teams in the division, finding an offensive mind who could outdo Sean McVay or Kyle Shanahan in their last head-coaching search, and instead got a defensive mind in Mike Macdonald who could give them a massive headache. That was on full display in the last two games the 49ers and Seahawks had against each other: Week 18 and the NFC Divisional round. Two games where the 49ers failed a single touchdown, and mustered up a crowd-pleasing nine points total between the two.
Obviously, a wide receiver will be needed, as well as some secondary help, but the trenches are an absolute necessity. We’ve joked about games telling Kyle Shanahan to draft an offensive line, and maybe the last two against Seattle might (finally) make him think to not only get some help at guard/center, but also get Trent Williams’ future figured out.
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Then again, the 49ers defense can still be filthy—when it’s healthy. Maybe just giving their offense more attempts at the ball while forcing stops on the opposing team’s offense is the right approach. Get Nick Bosa some help on the other side while keeping him healthy, and have Fred Warner clean up. Things were promising until the injuries came in.
One or the other isn’t so black and white, but it’s time to play armchair GM. Which side would you be placing the most priority on this offseason? Offensive or defensive line?
For me, I think offense makes more sense. Much like Seattle not trying to outdo Los Angeles and San Francisco on offense, the 49ers shouldn’t try to compete with the Seahawks for the absolute best defense. While the pass protection was decent for most of the year, the run game had definitely declined from prior seasons. Adding some maulers could improve the run game, making the pass game more efficient. Also, the last thing any of us wants is for Trent Williams to call it a career without any sort of answer. Dominick Puni is great at right guard, but can they keep him for the long term and get something decent to go alongside the promising lineman?
Again, Seattle’s defense isn’t getting worse, so something is needed to keep their pass rush at bay so the 49ers can actually score some points.
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That’s not to say defensive line isn’t a necessity. The 49ers absolutely need to get a few more pieces to get to the quarterback rather than let the opposing team’s signal caller eat his lunch in the pocket. The defense should improve once all the injured players are healthy. Is it enough to bring up the sack total? That’s to be determined. Maybe the secondary concerns can be alleviated by a defensive line that gets to the backfield much faster.
Which line do you place priority on this year: Offense or defense?
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