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At least one of the top two pass rushers —
Nick Bosa from Ohio State or Josh Allen from Kentucky — is guaranteed to be available when the San Francisco 49ers are on the clock with the No. 2 overall pick in April. That is, assuming the team doesn't trade down.
Allen seemed confident after his three-sack performance in the Wildcats' 27-24 victory over Penn State in the Citrus Bowl on Tuesday that he won't be available when San Francisco selects. His impressive performance also included a blocked field goal.
"You all record this," Allen told reporters. "If I don't go No. 1, I don't know who is."
Allen finished his senior season with 17 sacks — three more than he had during his previous two seasons combined. Allen set new Kentucky school single-season and career records for sacks this past season. He has accumulated 31.5 sacks in his four collegiate seasons.
Bosa, the younger brother of Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa, underwent surgery due to a core muscle injury sustained during Ohio State's third game of last season. He announced on October 16, 2018, that he was leaving school to focus on preparing for the draft.
Bosa finished the 2018 season with four sacks through three games after recording 13.5 sacks in his previous two years. He registered 77 combined tackles and 17.5 sacks in just over two seasons with the Buckeyes.
It is likely that one of these two players goes No. 1 overall in April and they could both be off the board after the first two picks. The 49ers are in dire need of a pass rusher. The team's most effective pass rusher was third-year player DeForest Buckner, who primarily plays along the interior.
While Buckner had a career-high 12 sacks this past season, no one else on the team had more than 5.5. San Francisco tied for No. 22 in the NFL at bringing down opposing quarterbacks. Those quarterbacks had a combined passer rating of 105.4 against the 49ers defense, which is the second-highest mark in the NFL. Only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense fared worse against opposing quarterbacks.
One 49ers player who will be keeping an eye on his team's offseason moves is 12-year veteran Joe Staley, who would like to once again sniff success before calling it a career. He joined Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area this past week on the
49ers Insider Podcast.
Staley will maintain a vested interest in the 49ers' offseason dealings but won't throw in his two cents when it comes to who to draft. He hasn't even started researching the incoming rookie class, which he does each year.
What does Staley think about potentially lining up against a highly-rated rookie pass rusher during offseason practices?
"I look forward to that — another competitive challenge," Staley responded. "I hope he makes it a real long camp for me because that bodes well for our football team."
Despite the 49ers win total dropping from six games in 2017 to four games in 2018, Staley remains confident in the current regime, including head coach Kyle Shanahan, being able to turn things around for the franchise.
"I'm excited to go into next year with a full roster," Staley said. "We have that second overall pick. We'll bring in some more talent in free agency. I'm excited for what's built here. I do think what we've gone through the last two years will benefit us greatly when we really start putting together some wins and the locker room is rolling like I know it will be."
2019 will be Staley's final season under contract with the 49ers. He plans to continue playing as long as he can do so at a high level. Staley has no desire to move from his left tackle spot or play a backup role to a younger player. When that happens, he'll know it's time to end his NFL career.
Staley remains focused on 2019.
"After that, it'll be my decision,"
Staley told reporters last month.
You can listen to the entire interview with Staley below.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy threw for a franchise-record 4,280 yards last season, leading the team to the Super Bowl and earning his first Pro Bowl selection. He held onto the football 39 times on the ground, rushing for 144 yards and scoring twice. This marked a significant improvement over his rookie 2022 campaign when he had 22 carries for 13 yards and a score.
Purdy further displayed his athleticism during the 49ers' playoff game against the Detroit Lions last season, helping engineer a comeback victory while rushing for 48 yards on five carries.
On Tuesday morning, Purdy joined the "Pat McAfee Show," acknowledging that he believes he can contribute more rushing yards if called upon. However, that decision rests with head coach Kyle Shanahan,
Marcus Mosher of The 33rd Team revealed his latest mock draft, which goes seven rounds deep and projects every selection for every NFL team. While most predict that the San Francisco 49ers will add an offensive lineman with their first selection, No. 31 overall, Mosher has the Bay Area team going in a different direction.
The writer and analyst has the Niners selecting former UCLA pass rusher Laiatu Latu in the first round.
"It wouldn't be a shock to see Laiatu Latu fall in the draft due to his medical history, but he is too good of a value to pass up here at No. 31," Mosher wrote. "The San Francisco 49ers have been searching for the right pass
The San Francisco 49ers will hold a mandatory minicamp from June 4 through 6, officially concluding the team's offseason program. After that, the Niners will break for over a month and return to the Santa Clara facilities for training camp in late July.
Between that time, starting quarterbacks will often organize throwing sessions with their receivers in an effort to build chemistry ahead of the rigors of training camp. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has been unable to participate in such sessions over the last two years. The last overall draft pick in 2022, Purdy had yet to make a name for himself during his first offseason. Last year, he was still recovering from offseason surgery on his throwing arm.
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George Kittle recently spoke with ESPN during the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, where he joined other NFL stars for the golfing event. Of course, the conversation shifted toward football, with Laura Rutledge asking Kittle to reflect on the team's 2023 season, its Super Bowl defeat, and the motivation it provides for the upcoming season.
The tight end believes San Francisco maintained a competitive roster this offseason and is gearing up for another run at a championship. He emphasized the importance of maintaining good health and continual improvement for a successful upcoming season.
"Brock Purdy is a fantastic quarterback, and he's only going to get better because he's young," Kittle said. "And we were fortunate enough to be able to keep our entire
