Shocker: 49ers pass on Nick Bosa in latest NFL.com mock draft

If Nick Bosa were to somehow fall to the San Francisco 49ers at the No. 2 overall pick, the Niner Faithful would likely find themselves overjoyed but also in a state of disbelief. That's exactly what happens in NFL.com's latest mock draft by analyst Lance Zierlein.

Zierlein has the Arizona Cardinals selecting Kentucky edge rusher Josh Allen, not Bosa, with the No. 1 overall pick. That scenario would allow the Ohio State edge rusher to fall into the laps of the 49ers. It's hard to imagine general manager John Lynch and company passing on such a talent, but that is what Zierlein has San Francisco doing in the mock draft.

Instead of counting their blessings and selecting Bosa, Zierlein has the 49ers drafting Michigan edge rusher Rashan Gary. Bosa then goes to the New York Jets with the next selection.

"Watching Allen come off the board at No. 1 is a curveball the 49ers will need to be prepared to deal with," writes Zierlein. "Ohio State's Nick Bosa is more a polished and game-ready edge rusher than Gary, but San Francisco could opt for explosiveness over polish."

Gary had 96 combined tackles, nine sacks, and a forced fumble in his final two seasons with the Wolverines.

Bosa, the younger brother of Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey 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.

Zierlein had to explain himself via Twitter to at least one fan who questioned his projected selection of Gary over Bosa by the 49ers.

The fan then asked if what he heard was in general or specific to the 49ers.

The draft is still nearly three months away, and a lot can happen before then, but the thought of the 49ers passing on a talent like Bosa has to at least be a bit of a shocker right now.

H/t to Richard Madrid for the find.