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Why the 49ers may need to look in-house to fill pass-rush need

INDIANAPOLIS -- The 49ers do not appear confident they can fill their massive need at pass rusher with someone who is currently not on the team’s roster.

After all, pass rushers are becoming more and more like quarterbacks. There are few – if any -- sure things in the draft. And once a team gets a good one, they rarely let him go.

General manager John Lynch revealed the 49ers spent a lot of time last year working on scheduled free agents Chandler Jones, Melvin Ingram and Jason Pierre-Paul. Those pass-rushers never made it to the open market, as the Cardinals, Chargers and Giants utilized their franchise tags before reaching long-term extensions.