The San Francisco 49ers have revamped their defense through the offseason with one of the new key components learning alongside star edge rusher Nick Bosa.

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The San Francisco 49ers have revamped their defense through the offseason with one of the new key components learning alongside star edge rusher Nick Bosa. originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The San Francisco 49ers did not completely overhaul their defense over the last few months, but they did start the offseason tearing down to the bones to begin remodeling this group. First, they began with a change in leadership, returning former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh back to his previous post.
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That proved the catalyst for it all, watching a number of starters hit free agency and sign elsewhere. Since then, the Niners have reconstructed this unit with Saleh serving as the lead architect.
Most of their notable moves came through the draft where San Francisco went defense-heavy with their selections. Edge Mykel Williams headlines this collection, entering the league as one of the most coveted defensive prospects.
Williams had 14 sacks and 23 tackles for loss in his three years at Georgia. The production certainly impresses, but the attitude he has brought to the practice field thus far has caught the attention of the older heads in the room, namely defensive star Nick Bosa.
'A lot of eagerness to learn, more so than I have seen probably from a young guy,' Bosa said this week. 'He just wants to learn as much as he can, and I'm excited to give all the knowledge I can to him. I think he's got a ton of talent, so the sky's the limit.'
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Williams has seemingly earned himself a proper mentor, not only generous from Bosa's side but the right move to take the young guy under his wing. Bosa and Williams will bookend the Niners' front and usher in the second Saleh era in the Bay Area.
'I definitely don't force anything,' Bosa said. 'I just try to give him enough. If I put myself in his shoes as a rookie, what would have helped me, what would have been too much, what I would have tried to avoid.
"So, just get him focused on the right things. Things that will make him effective right away and things that I wish that I knew as a rookie.'
Williams would be hard pressed to find a better veteran to learn from. Bosa is an established force, posting 53.5 sacks the last four seasons. The rookie's game encompasses more than just pressuring the quarterback, but learning from one of the league's most imposing players is an undeniable advantage.
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As long as Williams continues to absorb information under Bosa he should be on the fast track to becoming an impact player in Saleh's system. The Niners' defense has the foundation necessary to bounce back in 2025 though it will be the ancillary pieces like Williams that will reestablish the structure of a contending team.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.