Defensive end Jevon Kearse had 14.5 sacks during his rookie season with the Tennessee Titans in 1999. San Francisco 49ers rookie defensive end Nick Bosa has seven sacks through seven games, which puts him on pace for — hold on, let me do the math — yes, 16 sacks this season.

Keep in mind that Bosa was slowed by an ankle injury before the team's Week 4 bye week and had zero sacks in Weeks 2 and 3 (also none in Week 6). So that makes his season total so far even more impressive.


Bosa recorded three sacks against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday and even hauled in his first interception, showing to the world that he can do it all. The defensive star may be a rookie, but he is playing like a veteran, which prompted cornerback Richard Sherman to tell reporters after the game that Bosa shouldn't only be considered for the annual Defensive Rookie of the Year award, but he should be considered for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

That's right. Sherman thinks Bosa might be the best defensive player in the league, period. Not just the best defensive rookie.

Peter Schrager of "Good Morning Football" agrees.

"What Nick Bosa is doing to the league right now is unprecedented. [...] Nick Bosa has put on an absolute show," Schrager said on Monday morning. "For a guy who had an injury concern coming into this draft, he has been nothing but awesome. Forget Rookie of the Year; this might be your Defensive Player of the Year. That's among the very best.


"Find me an argument? Give me another player. I don't know who it is. Nick Bosa, really, my final thought from the week was that (performance against the Panthers) was his national coming-out party and the 49ers as a whole."

NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger is equally impressed with the 22-year-old defender.

"You just can't say enough. He's changed the entire culture," Baldinger said Monday on "NFL Now." "Not of just the defense but of that entire team, and you can feel it. It starts with Nick Bosa, right now. Everybody is playing better on the team, I think, because of what Nick Bosa is doing."

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