SANTA CLARA — Is Leonard Floyd the answer?
It’s too early to tell, and anyone who thinks non-contact offseason practice sessions can determine whether the 49ers have finally found an edge-rushing complement to Nick Bosa is indulging in wishful thinking.
Pairing Bosa with a formidable outside threat has been a goal of the 49ers’ coaching and personnel department since he arrived with the first pick of the draft in 2019. The closest thing was probably Dee Ford, acquired from Kansas City the year Bosa arrived.
Alas, Ford had 9 1/2 sacks in 18 games over three seasons as he battled back and neck issues.
Recent history suggests that won’t be a problem with Floyd, who will turn 32 the day before the 49ers open the regular season on Monday, Sept. 9 against the New York Jets at Levi’s Stadium. He hasn’t missed a game in the last six seasons of an eight-year career with the Chicago Bears (2016-19), Los Angeles Rams (2020-22) and Buffalo Bills (2023).
“It’s just my mindset, knowing the best ability is availability,” Floyd said Wednesday in his first media session with 49ers writers since he signed as a free agent on March 18. “There’s always knicks and knacks, but I play through ’em. I’m a tough guy.”
Floyd led Buffalo with 10 1/2 sacks last season as a defensive end but wasn’t an offseason priority. He jumped at the chance to play with the 49ers, whom he had admired from afar as an opponent.
“The transition has been great so far,” Floyd said. “It’s been lovely coming in and seeing all the coaches, my new teammates, guys I’ve played against over the years. Just happy to be on this side going against everybody else now.”
Floyd signed a two-year contract worth a maximum of $20 million with $12 million guaranteed and was the big-ticket free agent item of the offseason. Spending much of his time with Chicago and Los Angeles as a pass-rushing outside linebacker at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, he showed the ability to play with his hand on the ground as a defensive end with the Bills last season.
Over the past five seasons, the 49ers have been a good if not great pass-rushing team, finishing ninth in sacks last season (48), 11th in 2022 (44), sixth in 2021 (48), 22nd in 2020 (30 — with Bosa injured) and fourth in 2019 (48).
Since defensive line coach Kris Kocurek arrived in 2019, the 49ers have preferred to rush with a traditional four-man attacking front. Kocurek did change things up occasionally with Ford when healthy, and both Floyd and Kocurek are all for adding some versatility to the outside rush.
“I’ve always been a stand-up guy, but I’ve been buying into what (Kocurek) is trying to teach me and I’ve been really learning and trying to be the best I can at that,” Floyd said.
Likewise, Kocurek is learning about Floyd as well.
“Any time a player is really good at something I’d be an idiot to totally take it away from him and say, `You can’t do that,’” Kocurek said.
Buffalo defensive end Leonard Floyd brings down Aaron Rodgers in last year’s season opener against the New York Jets. Getty Images
Since Bosa arrived, the 49ers have cycled through veteran pass rushers Ford, Arden Key, Samson Ebukam, Charles Omenihu and last season’s additions Clelin Ferrell and Randy Gregory.
Draft picks Drake Jackson, rehabbing a knee injury, and Robert Beal Jr. are still around, and the 49ers also signed free agent Yetur Gross-Matos.
Make no mistake, Floyd is being counted upon to at least duplicate his career high of 10 1/2 sacks (he’s done it twice).
Floyd got a full-throated endorsement from Brandon Staley, the new 49ers defensive assistant who was his linebackers coach for two seasons in Chicago and defensive coordinator for one year with the Rams.
“Just hearing the conviction on Brandon’s side of it about the player, the person, the love for the game and the skill set draws you even more into it when you get the full picture,” Kocurek said.
Floyd got off to a fast start in terms of sacks in 2023. No. 1 came in the opener against the New York Jets — the play that resulted in a torn Achilles for Aaron Rodgers. Floyd will face Rodgers in the opener again this season.
But Floyd had no sacks in his last eight games including two playoff rounds, and he played just 19 snaps in the Bills’ 27-24 loss to Kansas City in the divisional round.
While that would indicate Floyd wore down over the course of the season, Staley said the film says otherwise.
“Leonard is one of the top players I’ve ever coached,” Staley said. “I coached him in two spots, and I’ve been able to see his growth and improvement as a player. And I felt like last year he played as well as he’s ever played, and that’s saying a lot because he’s played at a high level.”
Kocurek said Floyd’s “length and explosion jumps off the page” and he also found a quick admirer in Bosa.
“I think he’s a super skilled rusher with good length, and he’s more athletic than I even realized,” Bosa said. “I think guys like him, when they come to our scheme, the best is brought out in them. He’s Year 9, so I feel as a D-lineman you can keep improving all the way through 10 years in this league so I’m excited to see what he has.”
General manager John Lynch noted, “I love the way he chases. He just plays with great effort.”
That is no small thing considering there were instances in the first half of the NFC Championship Game against Detroit where the 49ers showed something less than that. One of the culprits, defensive end Chase Young, was predictably allowed to walk in free agency (he went to New Orleans) in the aftermath.
“We had a couple of lapses in big moments, everybody knows about it, everybody talks about it,” Kocurek said. “We put an extreme amount of dedication, effort and work into playing extremely physical and very hard. That’s what we plan on doing moving forward.”
Floyd said he can see the difference in how the 49ers approach the offseason.
Related Articles
Inman: 10 things I learned at 49ers practice beyond Purdy’s passes
Kurtenbach: The 49ers are betting big on Brock Purdy… and a 62-year-old position coach
George Kittle doesn’t mince words about 49ers’ Super Bowl odds
Key 49ers wide receiver agrees to extension through 2025
Santa Clara, San Francisco 49ers settle final legal disputes over Levi’s Stadium
“The guys come in, work hard every day, and there ain’t too much complaining,” Floyd said. “Guys lock in and we all understand how to work.”
Floyd understands what is expected of him and that he’ll be watched closely in terms of production.
“I want to get after the quarterback, affect the game, affect the run game, affect winning,” Floyd said. “Anything that will help us win, that’s where my mind is. You get your sacks, and you start from zero the next year. There’s always pressure. Always.”
The 49ers can only hope that pressure is transferred to opposing quarterbacks on passing downs.
Or they’ll be in the market for another outside threat next offseason.
