The 49ers didn’t over-complicate things with the No. 2 pick. Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa was the best player available, and he fit San Francisco’s biggest need. It’s impossible to grade the selection as anything other than an A.
Bosa checks all the boxes teams typically want from a 4-3 defensive end. He meets the size requirements, he’s strong enough to set the edge in the run game, and he’s a surgeon as a pass rusher with the necessary bend to turn the corner in the NFL.
There’s no questions about where Bosa will play. He’s a three-down player who will line up on the edge opposite the newly-acquired Dee Ford.
The fact he doesn’t have any athletic measurables that jump off the page makes his pass rushing prowess that much more impressive. He’s plenty explosive with a great first step and enough speed to beat tackles around the corner. It’s the small things that make Bosa a plug-and-play defensive end who should immediately wreak havoc on NFL offensive lines. He uses his hands well and has a bevy of well-honed moves and counters. No two sacks look the same when watching him.
Ultimately, the 49ers got lucky to be picking No. 2 overall despite having a roster that isn’t a four-win team when fully healthy. Then they had the optimal situation where the draft’s best player slipped to them, who also happened to fit their biggest need.
San Francisco needed a home run to start the 2019 draft, and they appear to have gotten one in Bosa.
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