DeForest Buckner is coming off of his best year as a pro. The San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle racked up a career-high 12 sacks to go along with his 67 combined tackles and three passes defensed in 2018.
Buckner is entering his fourth NFL season. The team exercised its fifth-year option on the budding defensive star in April but hopes to work out a long-term extension to ensure he doesn't leave the 49ers anytime soon.
All of that is up to the team's decision-makers and Buckner's agent. In the meantime, all he can do is focus on his personal goals, which he shared on Wednesday night during the 49ers' annual State of the Franchise event.
"I want to be the best at my position," Buckner said in front of about 1,000 fans. "I approach that every day."
Then Buckner pointed to pass rusher Dee Ford, who the 49ers traded for in March.
"I lent Dee my notebook the first day that he came in because he came in late," Buckner shared. "He was having his baby. He was catching up on some notes, and what was the first note in my notebook?"
"I can't be blocked," Ford responded.
"Exactly," Buckner said. "I told him, 'I can't be blocked.' I approach that every day. That's my mindset going in every day for practice, and that's how I approach every game. I want to be the best at my position."
As for Ford, he was impressed with the 49ers almost immediately after the Kansas City Chiefs traded him. It was during his visit to the team's facility in Santa Clara when he witnessed something he had never seen before.
"I was very impressed the day after the trade when I showed up, seeing about 20 guys working out," Ford explained. "I've never seen that many just at the facility working out, Buck being one. You know, coming off a great season, we were at the Pro Bowl together, that was very impressive to me. One thing you can't fake is hard work."
With a defensive line consisting of several former first-round picks and a bolstered edge rush, the 49ers defense expects to be dominant up front. General manager John Lynch said this offseason that he expects the defensive line to be a dominant force.
Is that the players' expectation heading into the 2019 season?
"Every day," Buckner responded. "Every day has got to be better than the day before. We're stacking days. You've got to be your best self every day, and eventually, the end result, it's going to be incredible."