A roundtable with instant reactions
You’re going to hear plenty of analysis about the San Francisco 49ers first-round selection Nick Bosa over the coming days. How about some instant reactions from the NN staff? Here’s our take on the newest 49er.
Kyle
The 49ers had a big need at edge rusher. It’s tough to find a better fit than Bosa. He’s the best pass rusher in the draft, and it’s not really close. The Niners struggled mightily to get after the QB. That is Bosa’s speciality. He should be able to come in and produce right away. I think it’s important to understand that Bosa makes everyone around him better. Deforest Buckner is better because of this. Dee Ford is bette because of this. Solomon Thomas gets better. That’s before we even get to the secondary.
Pat
Back in December, I said the 49ers had a shot at this guy given the Cardinals needs. When healthy, Bosa has the potential to transform this defensive line. We are talking about one of the best lines in football in one or two year. The big x-factor is Solomon Thomas. If he can take his next step, you have Dee Ford, DeForest Buckner, Thomas, and Bosa running a pass rush? Yikes. The decision was easy, but Quinnen Williams was very very tempting.
The secondary can benefit from this as well. A quicker pass rush means more erratic throws, which means interceptions and dangerous passes. Part of the 49ers issues last year was the lethargic pass rush, which again has been vetted with Nick Bosa.
The health issues do concern me, but hopefully the 49ers new and improved strength and conditioning unit has vetted this extensively. When healthy, the ceiling of this defensive line is nothing short of jaw-dropping. It’s a good day to be a 49ers fan.
Rob
Nick Bosa was the easiest pick John Lynch has made in his three years as the 49ers’ general manager. Bosa is the most complete pass rusher in the draft and the need aligned perfectly with the value for San Francisco. If his injury concerns are behind him, the 49ers should’ve just drafted a blue-chip pass rusher with yearly Pro Bowl potential.
Fooch
It’s pretty clear how I feel about his personal beliefs. From a purely football perspective, however, there’s not a lot to dislike about Bosa. He’s the kind of edge rusher the 49ers have lacked since they released Aldon Smith. There is no sure thing in the draft, but he has the production, pedigree, and physical tools to be the next great Niner pass rusher. If he does not pan out, nobody will fault the 49ers for the football side of this decision (well, almost nobody).
The core muscle injury that cut short his final season at Ohio State left some folks concerned, but once the injury happened, it made all the sense in the world for him to shut it down and focus on the NFL Draft. Injuries are a concern for anybody in the NFL, but it doesn’t bother me.
Alex Eisen
Nick Bosa has been at the very top of most draft boards including mine. For the longest time the San Francisco 49ers have been searching for help in the pass rushing department. In a pass friendly league you have to be able to create pressure and get to the quarterback. The 49ers did what they had to do this off season, first trading for Dee Ford, then selecting Nick Bosa with the second overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. As I mentioned in previous mock drafts and scouting reports, Nick Bosa was a no brainer pick for the 49ers. He is a perfect scheme fit, and a week one starter.
I am excited to see what the 49ers defensive line will produce with the likes of Bosa, Dee Ford, DeForest Buckner, and Arik Armstead. Bosa instantly improves the defense, not only along the defensive line, but in the secondary as well. The injuries are a bit concerning, however the talent and production more than make up for this. Injuries are unpredictable and are part of the game. They can happen to anyone at anytime. Let’s hope for a healthy season for our ENTIRE roster! The 49ers get an A+ with this selection.
Josh Eccles
San Francisco, as we all know, have lacked a serious threat at pass rusher for about 5 seasons now. With the selection of Nick Bosa it just about shores up the defensive line – which now boasts newly-acquired free agent Dee Ford along with Arik Armstead, Solomon Thomas, and perennial DPOY-candidate Deforest Buckner. The 49ers entered the offseason with zero firepower at EDGE and now have 2 clear-cut get-to-the-quarterback-at-will players who will, with their skillset, make the rest of the defense look better.
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