2019 NFL Draft: Top 5 Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates

By Randy Gurzi | May 6, 2019

NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 25: Nick Bosa of Ohio State with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being announced as the second pick in the first round of the NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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2. Nick Bosa, EDGE, San Francisco 49ers

Ed Oliver has been compared to Aaron Donald because they both are undersized for their position but have insane speed and explosion to make up for that. Our next candidate is also compared to a former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, but for a different reason.

Nick Bosa was the second overall selection in this draft and he’s the younger brother of Joey Bosa who won the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. Both of the Bosa brothers attended Ohio State and became massive stars but Nick ended up going one pick higher as he was the second overall selection by the San Francisco 49ers.

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Just to prove how talented this family is, Nick Bosa was actually the third member of their household to be taken in the first round. Their father, John Bosa, was also a defensive end and was taken in the first round by the Miami Dolphins after playing for Boston College.

The newest Bosa to join the NFL may be the most talented of them all. He also joins a defensive line that’s stacked with talent. DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead are solid defensive tackles who will require a lot of attention. There’s also Dee Ford, who was traded to the team from the Kansas City Chiefs in the offseason who will line up opposite Bosa at the other defensive end position.

While these players will all get their numbers, there’s also a chance they could open things up for Bosa. Should opposing teams pay more attention to the veterans than the newcomer, he could rack up a lot of big plays very quickly which would help his case as he seeks the second member of his family to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.