It's time for NFL teams to start thinking about exercising the fifth-year options of their first-round picks in the 2019 NFL draft. That includes some pretty big names, like Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. The window to exercise those options opened on Monday, with the deadline set for May 2.
NFL Media analyst Marc Ross went through each first-round pick from 2019, voting "Yes" or "No" to indicate whether he feels their respective teams should exercise the fifth-year option.
For the San Francisco 49ers, that means looking at the possibilities for defensive end Nick Bosa. This one seems like a no-brainer. Bosa is the team's best pass rusher and its best player on the defensive side of the ball. He is a foundational piece on defense, and the unit's production has seen a significant drop without him.
Obviously, Ross votes "Yes" for Bosa.
"Despite missing nearly the entire 2020 season with a knee injury, the healthy Bosa has been everything evaluators thought he would be as an absolute game-wrecker," Ross explained.
"The production speaks for itself, as Bosa compiled 24.5 sacks (15.5 in 2021), 37 tackles for loss and 57 QB hits over the course of his two full seasons in 2019 and 2021. But the man also has the accolades, with the 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year award and two Pro Bowl bids to his name."
Bosa's 75 total pressures lead the 49ers by a significant margin. The next closest player was defensive lineman Arik Armstead with 52, per Pro Football Focus. That's pretty impressive when you consider the young pass rusher was coming off such a devastating injury—a torn ACL.
Because Bosa has already been named to multiple Pro Bowls, Over The Cap estimates his fully-guaranteed fifth-year option to cost about $20.19 million. He and Murray are the only two 2019 first-round picks who have been selected to multiple Pro Bowls—twice each.
