2019 NFL Mock Draft: Jets have edge, Browns get defensive in two-round projection
By Randy Gurzi
2. San Francisco 49ers: Nick Bosa, EDGE, Ohio State
The debate about the best prospect could go back and forth for days and it’s hard to decide who is better between Quinnen Williams and Nick Bosa. What isn’t hard to decide is which of the two players would fit better on the San Francisco 49ers. Currently, they have Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner, and Solomon Thomas on the defensive line. All were picked rather early in their respective drafts, but only one has lived up to the hype.
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That would be Buckner, who is coming off a season in which he had 12 sacks, which is a career-high. Armstead is also coming off his best campaign, but that still ended with just three sacks and 48 tackles. As for Thomas, his four career sacks (one in 2018) are a reason for concern as the No. 3 overall pick in 2017 has yet to put it all together.
On top of the numbers, all three are more of power players, with Buckner listed at 307 pounds, Armstead at 292 and Thomas at 275 pounds. Having said all that, the 49ers need a player with some explosion off the edge, and that’s what Nick Bosa brings.
The former Ohio State star is very similar to his big brother, who was taken third overall by the San Diego Chargers (now the L.A. Chargers) in 2016. The elder Bosa quickly became their best pass rusher and is incredibly difficult to block. The younger Bosa will likely have a similar impact and is the exact type of defender San Francisco is missing on their line.