You read the headline right. On June 25th, I’m calling my shot and believe Osa Odighizuwa will lead the San Francisco 49ers in sacks in 2026. Yes, Nick Bosa is back, as is Mykel Williams, and the 49ers drafted pass rush specialist Romello Height, but it will be Odighizuwa who will pace the 49ers’ defensive line.

Last season, the pass rush for the defensive line sputtered badly after all the injuries. The 49ers made a sneaky good move by moving a third-round (round of death in the draft for the most part for the 49ers) pick for the defensive tackle.

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Why am I so confident in Odighizuwa? 2025 saw Odighizuwa lead the Cowboys in total pressures with 52 and 20 QB hits, according to Pro Football Focus. Raheem Morris’ defense and the incoming reinforcements will improve the pass rush immediately, but the opportunity to take advantage of one-on-one looks as a pass rusher is where Osa will shine in 2026. It could take Bosa and Williams time to hit their stride after the injuries, but the threat of both is still enough to create advantageous matchups.

A deeper look at the numbers reveals the nature of the season Odighizuwa had in 2025. According to SIS Data Hub, Odighizuwa ranked fourth in the NFL with 20 knockdowns, but first among all defensive tackles in the NFL. With only 388 pass-rushing snaps, the increased volume will only push the productivity up. Odighizuwa didn’t notch as many sacks as defensive tackle Chris Jones (7.0-3.5) from Kansas City, but had a higher hit % (9.8-7.9) and knockdown % (5.2-3.9).

For what it’s worth, Odighizuwa outpaced Myles Garret in hit % and knockdown %. Think about this: when Micah Parsons was disrupting on the EDGE, Odighizuwa set career highs in snaps, sacks, hurries, and defensive snaps in 2025. The defensive tackle is in line to top his career-high of seven sacks in 2026. Bosa, Williams, and Height will be effective in 2026, but the main benefactor will be Odighizuwa.

Big season on deck for the former Cowboy.