Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Watching 49ers’ Nick Bosa chase Cardinals’ Kyler Murray should be fun
The San Francisco 49ers grabbed Ohio State EDGE Nick Bosa shortly after the Arizona Cardinals took Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray No. 1 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. And this sets up a nice little NFC West rivalry for the immediate future.
Before too long, fans will be able to watch the newest member of the San Francisco 49ers, EDGE
Nick Bosa, chase around the top pick from the 2019 NFL Draft, now-Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Kyler Murray, on Sundays.
The Niners benefited from the Cardinals' selection of Murray, essentially letting arguably the draft's top prospect, Bosa, fall right into their collective lap. An elite pass-rusher, Bosa shouldn't have too much difficulty getting some lofty stats right away on a 49ers defensive line already boasting four former first-round picks, DeForest Buckner, Solomon Thomas,
Arik Armstead and the recently acquired Dee Ford.
Meanwhile, Murray is entering a Cardinals team amid a total rebuild and boasted an offensive line that ranked 26th in pass protection a year ago, according to
Football Outsiders.
Despite some offseason changes there, it's pretty safe to say Bosa and the Niners pass rush should be in for some enticing matchups with their NFC West rivals for the foreseeable future.
For now, the Cardinals still have another quarterback on their roster, Josh Rosen, who'll likely be the subject of trade talks between now and the time any deal happens. There's almost zero chance Arizona keeps both heading into training camp, especially considering the number of other teams shopping for quarterbacks in the draft.
So this sets up what should be a nice little rivalry between Murray and Bosa, two new members of the NFC West, whose history will forever be linked by having gone in spot Nos. 1 and 2, respectively.
And for the safe bet, let's just bank on Bosa winning the majority of those pass-rushing battles from here on out.
-
Written by:
Peter Panacy has been writing about the 49ers since 2011 for outlets like Bleacher Report, Niner Noise, 49ers Webzone, and is occasionally heard as a guest on San Francisco's 95.7 FM The Game and the Niners' flagship station, KNBR 680. Feel free to follow him, or direct any inquiries to his Twitter account.
The opinions within this article are those of the writer and, while just as important, are not necessarily those of the site as a whole.
More San Francisco 49ers News
Arik Armstead talks Steve Wilks, Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave, and 49ers' QB situation
Arik Armstead is looking forward to the upcoming season. There is a lot to look forward to. His San Francisco 49ers have been to the NFC Championship Game three times over the past four seasons. They once again have a competitive roster and look to make another run at a Super Bowl championship.
Armstead joined Adam Schefter on the ESPN insider's podcast, discussing several 49ers-related topics.
New defensive coordinator Steve Wilks
Steve Wilks replaces DeMeco Ryans as defensive coordinator. Armstead had nothing but praise for his former coordinator, who left to be the Houston Texans' head coach, but looks forward to working with Wilks.
Wilks isn't expected to make any drastic changes in his first season helming the 49ers defense.
Should the 49ers entertain the idea of signing WR DeAndre Hopkins?
By Rohan Chakravarthi
May 27
The Arizona Cardinals made a significant move on Friday morning, releasing star receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who had a tumultuous 2022 season, marred by a six-game PED suspension and a knee strain that caused him to miss the final games of the year.
Earlier this week, Hopkins went on the "I Am Athlete" podcast, where he shared that his primary goals for his next team were stable management from the front office, a quarterback who loves the games and is loved by his teammates, and a great defense.
What's DeAndre Hopkins looking for from his next team?•Stable management •A QB who loves the game
This PFF stat should have QBs worried about facing the 49ers
By Rohan Chakravarthi
May 28
The San Francisco 49ers have compiled one of the NFL's best rosters, hence their overall success over the last four seasons, which includes a Super Bowl appearance and three trips to the NFC Championship.
A big portion of that success? The developed talent along the defensive line, which has been the core of the team ever since head coach Kyle Shanahan took over in 2017.
After a down, but still fairly strong year from the defensive line in 2022, San Francisco added defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, who had 11 sacks on the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022, to bolster the interior alongside Arik Armstead.
Hargrave joins defensive end Nick Bosa, who led the team with 18.5 sacks en route to winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in
How Christian McCaffrey is setting a standard during 49ers OTAs
It didn't take long for Christian McCaffrey to become a leader in the locker room after the Carolina Panthers traded the running back to the San Francisco 49ers. McCaffrey joined the team, owning a reputation as a player who is among the hardest working at maintaining his craft.
The 49ers kicked off organized team activities (OTAs) this week, and McCaffrey is among the many players in attendance. While that is unlikely to surprise anyone, it's important to remember that OTAs are voluntary. One big-name player not present is the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Nick Bosa. Of course, no one is concerned, given the talented pass rusher's past production.
While McCaffrey doesn't have to be in Santa Clara, his presence is another example of how quickly he's grown
