Four San Francisco 49ers players were named to the Pro Bowl this week. One of those players, defensive end Nick Bosa, is a rookie. He is the first 49ers rookie to earn a trip to the Pro Bowl since safety Eric Reid did so as an alternate in 2014, and the first Niners rookie to be voted in since linebacker Patrick Willis in 2007.
Bosa entered the NFL with a lot of hype surrounding his potential immediate impact, and he has delivered. The team could have gone in several other directions, but the selection of Bosa appears to have been the correct decision.
Podcast host, contributor at The Athletic, and former NFL scout, John Middlekauff, has been impressed with Bosa and feels the rookie filled a significant need on the 49ers defense.
"The Niners needed this, and he's having one of the best rookie defensive end seasons I've ever seen," Middlekauff said this week during the "Haberman and Middlekauff" podcast. "Like Khalil Mack, we knew he was really good. He wasn't close to this. Again, it's different because [Bosa] has a lot more help, but I just watch the guy rush; he just came into the league ready to get 12, 15 sacks, which is usually rare."
Middlekauff notes that scouting reports called Bosa, the younger brother of Los Angeles Chargers pass rusher Joey Bosa, pro-ready. At first, Middlekauff wasn't sure about the rookie's NFL ceiling but has become a believer.
"Everyone was like, he's going to be as good as his brother," Middlekauff continues. "I was like, 'I don't know.'
"He's as good as his brother, and his brother is an ass-kicker."
Bosa has racked up nine sacks to go along with his 41 tackles, two passes defensed, an interception, and one forced fumble this season.
You can listen to the entire "Haberman and Middlekauff" podcast episode below. The portion about Bosa begins at about the 34-minute mark.