Sam Monson of NFL Network ranked the top 25 edge defenders heading into the 2020 season, and the San Francisco 49ers were not represented just once, not twice, but three times on the list.
J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans came in at No. 1, following by Khalil Mack of the Chicago Bears. Further down the list at No. 7, you will find defensive end Nick Bosa of the 49ers.
Monson writes the following of Bosa:
"Nick Bosa didn't just break the single-season rookie record for total pressures at PFF — he shattered it. That record, 64, was set by Aldon Smith back in 2011, but Bosa ended his rookie year with 80 and was still cooking on gas throughout the postseason, adding another 22 in three postseason games, including double-digits in the Super Bowl. If Bosa takes even a marginal step forward in year two — or even just avoids a sophomore slump backward — he is one of the league's best edge rushers and a true force to be reckoned with."
The 49ers this offseason signed defensive lineman Arik Armstead to a lucrative multi-year extension. He came in at No. 19, and here is what Monson said of the sixth-year player:
"It was a breakout 2019 campaign for Arik Armstead in his contract year, and that alone has to raise some questions as to how repeatable it is. He produced an 89.6 overall PFF grade, more than 15 grading points better than his mark in 2018, and he almost doubled his pressure total to 73 from the previous year's 37. If 2019 Armstead is here to stay, he is a force to be reckoned with and deserves a better ranking than 19th among edge rushers. But the doubt that lingers from a contract year keeps him here until he proves he can back it up again."
Down at No. 21, you will find defensive end Dee Ford, who hopes to return to form this year after being hindered by injuries last season, his first with the 49ers. Ford, however, left practice on Sunday with an apparent right lower leg injury. His status remains uncertain.
Monson wrote the following of Ford:
"Injury kept Dee Ford from backing up his contract year performance last year with another impressive campaign, this time with the 49ers. When he was on the field, Ford was effective, notching 33 total pressures from 252 pass-rushing snaps. But his season was limited to just 322 total snaps after he played over 1,100 the year before as Kansas City made it to the AFC Championship Game. Ford has elite speed-rush ability on the edge, and his run defense is just good enough to make him viable in an every-down role."
