With the 2026 NFL draft behind us, teams are turning their attention back to the veteran market to fill in roster gaps they weren’t able to address with first-year players. The San Francisco 49ers will be no different with their expected league-leading salary cap space for this upcoming season.
There are a few areas of need still to be solved, and one veteran is already pitching himself as a solution. Linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who just wrapped up his 12th NFL season, told FanDuel TV’s Kay Adams that he would “really like to play” with the 49ers alongside fellow BYU alum Fred Warner.
“I’d really like to play with my little brother Fred Warner with the Niners,” Van Noy said. “I think they got something cooking over there. I know they love Joey Bosa, right? Because Nick and all that — I get that. But I would love to play with my little brother. That’s that’s my guy.”
Van Noy and Warner never played together at BYU, as Warner didn’t start playing for the Cougars until after Van Noy graduated. But the two apparently have a close friendship.
While the 49ers don’t have a dire need at outside linebacker, Van Noy could provide a cheaper alternative to any potential moves the team was thinking about — Joey Bosa or otherwise. He is coming off a down year, though, after he played in just 50% of the Baltimore Ravens defensive snaps in 2025. That was Van Noy’s lowest snap share since 2015. He also only tallied two sacks — his lowest mark since 2016 — despite recording a career-best 12.5 in 2024.
If the 49ers like Van Noy, too, this wouldn’t be a bad signing. The 35-year-old comes with a plethora of experience, wouldn’t be asked to play as other potential signings and wouldn’t cost much after signing a one-year, $4.2 million deal with the Ravens this past season.
The added boost of bringing in Warners’ friend wouldn’t be so bad, either.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 2-time champ wants to play for 49ers: ‘They got something cooking’
Reporting by Oliver G., Niners Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
