The San Francisco 49ers selected Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Bosa has long been expected to be the 49ers' top selection as the team works to bolster its pass rush this offseason. Bosa joins a defensive front that includes former Kansas City Chiefs pass rusher Dee Ford, whom the team traded for in March, and Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner along the interior.
Bosa finished his 2018 season with the Buckeyes with four sacks in three games after racking up 13.5 during his previous two years. He missed the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery due to a core muscle injury sustained during Ohio State's third game and announced on October 16, 2018, that he was leaving school to focus on preparing for the draft.
Bosa registered 77 combined tackles with 17.5 sacks in just over two seasons with the Buckeyes.
The 49ers spent a lot of time with Bosa during the pre-draft process. General manager John Lynch spoke with him during an Ohio State practice leading to the Rose Bowl. Bosa was no longer with the Buckeyes but visited his former squad during the session.
"We had a fortuitous deal. We came down to scout Ohio State," Lynch said in February. "They've got a ton of players. It happened to be the day, him not playing and being around his team, he showed up at practice that day."
New San Francisco 49ers edge defender Nick Bosa's career grades during his time at Ohio State! pic.twitter.com/sIxJg1kKhb
— PFF (@PFF) April 26, 2019
Bosa also met with the 49ers at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, during Ohio State's pro day in March, and visited the team's Santa Clara-based facility earlier this month.
"I would be lucky to get picked by [the 49ers]," Bosa said in February. "The roster, for a team that's picking No. 2, is a really stacked roster. They had the injury at quarterback that obviously allowed them to get this high in the draft so I think it would be cool, definitely, to go play for a team that is closer than most people think to being a contender."
At the NFL Scouting Combine, the 6-foot-4 and 266-pound Bosa had a 40-time of 4.79 seconds, a vertical jump of 33.5 inches, a broad jump of 116 inches, completed the three-cone drill in 7.1 seconds, 29 reps in the bench press, and a 20-yard shuttle time of 4.14 seconds. Other measurables for Bosa include an arm length of 33 inches and hands that measure 10 3/4 inches.
Nick Bosa is the fourth D-lineman the 49ers have chosen with their top pick in the past five drafts. He joins DT Arik Armstead (2015), DT DeForest Buckner (2016) and DT Solomon Thomas (2017).
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) April 26, 2019
"Nick's a heck of a player," Lynch said of Bosa on Monday. "He's one we really enjoyed studying throughout this process."
Nick Bosa is the younger brother of Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa. NFL.com projected the younger Bosa to be a top-5 draft pick.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, who compares Bosa to Michael Bennett, wrote the following about Bosa within his scouting report:
"High-motor defensive end prospect possessing NFL play strength on a well-muscled, compact frame. Bosa uses forward lean, smart hands and impressive upper-body power to pry open edges against the run and pass. He can defeat single blocks and fits as an end in both 4-3 and 3-4 fronts with the ability to reduce inside as a rusher. His lack of fluidity in space could prevent him from becoming an elite rusher, but he understands how to play and should become an early starter and future Pro Bowler."
Dane Brugler of The Athletic wrote the following about Bosa within his scouting report:
"A two-year starter at Ohio State, Bosa rushed off the left and right edges in the Buckeyes' four-man front where he was coached by revered defensive line coach Larry Johnson. After an All-American sophomore season, he entered the 2018 season as the No. 1 draft-eligible player in college football, but underwent surgery in September for his groin and abdominal injury (he was expected to recover by early December, but elected to leave the team and work toward the NFL). Durability is the main concern for his NFL projection, but when on the field, Bosa uses proper biomechanics to maximize his body force and convert speed-to-power as a rusher. The opportunity to watch and learn from his Pro Bowl older brother accelerated his development, both showing the same appreciation for the art of the pass rush. Overall, Bosa is a carbon copy of Joey Bosa with his blend of athleticism and violent hands, gaining ground and defeating blocks in a variety of ways to make an impact rushing the passer and stopping the run."
Tony Pauline of Draft Analyst wrote the following about Bosa within his scouting report:
"Despite missing just about all last season, Bosa still ranks as one of the top players in this year's draft and comes with great upside. He should quickly rebound from his injury and will only get better as he physically matures and continues to get stronger."
Joe Marino of The Draft Network wrote the following about Bosa within his scouting report:
"Bosa projects most favorably to playing defensive end in an even front with upside to immediately become a high impact playmaker. He offers a polished pass rushing skill set, exceptional processing skills, outstanding play strength and the athleticism to be a game-changing edge defender in the NFL. By year three, Bosa has the upside to be one of the NFL's most valuable and dynamic defensive playmakers."
Measurables
Height: 6-4
Weight: 266 lbs.
Arm length: 33 inches
Hand length: 10 3/4 inches
NFL Scouting Combine
40-time: 4.79 seconds
Vertical: 33.5 inches
Broad jump: 116 inches
3-cone drill: 7.1 seconds
Bench press: 29 reps
20-yard shuttle: 4.14 seconds
| College Statistics | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Class | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | |||||||||
| 2016 | Ohio State | FR | 12 | 17 | 12 | 29 | 7.0 | 5.0 | |||||||||
| 2017 | Ohio State | SO | 14 | 19 | 15 | 34 | 16.0 | 8.5 | |||||||||
| 2018 | Ohio State | JR | 3 | 11 | 3 | 14 | 6.0 | 4.0 | |||||||||
| Total | Ohio State | 47 | 30 | 77 | 29.0 | 17.5 | |||||||||||
