Super Bowl 54: Ranking the 20 best players playing in 49ers vs. Chiefs
By Samuel Teets
14. Arik Armstead, DE, 49ers
San Francisco invested a lot of draft capital in their defensive line recently. Arik Armstead, Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner and Solomon Thomas are all fist round selections. However, Armstead looked like a bust heading into the fifth and final year of his rookie deal. Then, he broke every relevant single-season high of his career.
In 2019, Armstead set career-highs with ten sacks, 18 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, and 54 tackles. His timely emergence transformed the 49ers into the defensive juggernaut they are today.
Armstead recorded sacks in both of San Francisco’s playoff games. Regardless of whether the 49ers win or lose, Super Bowl LIV could be Armstead’s last game as a 49er. He’s a pending free agent and is due for a raise. We’ll see if he can go out with a big performance.
13. Frank Clark, DE, Chiefs
The Chiefs lost two of their top pass rushers during the 2019 offseason. Dee Ford ended up in San Francisco and Justin Houston went to Indianapolis. To make up for their losses, the Chiefs signed Clark to a five-year, $104 million deal. Despite a drop in production, Clark still made his presence felt in Kansas City.
In his final three years with the Seahawks, Clark accumulated 32 sacks and 66 quarterback hits. In comparison, his first year with the Chiefs was disappointing. Clark played in 14 games and finished the season with eight sacks, 14 quarterback hits and three forced fumbles. However, the former second-round pick did make his first Pro Bowl.
Clark already played a significant role for the Chiefs this postseason. Against Deshaun Watson and the Texans, Clark ran wild. He finished the game with three sacks and four quarterback hits. Clark also reached Ryan Tannehill once in the AFC Championship. Now, he’ll face San Francisco’s stout offensive line in the Super Bowl.