The San Francisco 49ers underwent a massive roster overhaul this offseason, with no position group experiencing more change than the defensive line. Yet one pillar remains—star defensive end Nick Bosa, still widely regarded as one of the NFL's elite pass rushers.
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox recently ranked the top 15 NFL franchise players to build around ahead of the 2025 season, and Bosa landed at No. 10 on the list.
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There will be many new faces lining up alongside Bosa this year. Veterans such as Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, and Leonard Floyd are gone, replaced by rookies Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, and CJ West. That makes Bosa, entering his seventh NFL season, the elder leader of the revamped unit.
Bosa's production took a dip last season, with the pass rusher failing to record double-digit sacks for the first time since 2020. However, Knox emphasized that Bosa continues to rank among the league's most disruptive edge defenders, and he doesn't turn 28 until October.
"Bosa has made the Pro Bowl in each of his six seasons except for 2020, a year in which he tore his ACL after only two games," Knox wrote. "The 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year and 2022 Defensive Player of the Year has recorded 62.5 career sacks and 165 quarterback hits while helping the 49ers reach two Super Bowls and four NFC title games."
Bosa currently ranks third on the 49ers' all-time sacks list. With 62.5 sacks, he is within striking distance of Charles Haley's 66.5 and could challenge Bryant Young's franchise record of 89.5 before his career ends.
"Besides, it's not as if Bosa's 'down' years have been all that bad," Knox continued. "He had 10.5 sacks in 2023 and 9.0 sacks in 2024 while logging 81 QB pressures over those two campaigns."
Even amid recent defensive struggles, Bosa remains the key to San Francisco's pass rush. As the 49ers aim to rebound from a disappointing 6-11 finish in 2024, Bleacher Report's recognition of Bosa underscores his value to the team.