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San Francisco 49ers: 5 Post-NFL Draft Bold Predictions for the 2017 Season

By Peter Panacy

Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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December 11, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end DeForest Buckner (99) sacks New York Jets quarterback Bryce Petty (9) during the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Jets defeated the 49ers 23-17 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 11, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end DeForest Buckner (99) sacks New York Jets quarterback Bryce Petty (9) during the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Jets defeated the 49ers 23-17 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 5: A 49ers Defender Registers Double-Digit Sacks

The last time someone on the 49ers posted 10-plus sacks in a season was EDGE Aldon Smith back in his All-Pro 2012 campaign (19.5). A few players have sniffed double-digit sack totals since but no one has reached the mark.

Expect that to change in 2017.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Exactly which player gets 10 or more sacks this season is up in the air. Without a true edge-rushing specialist, coordinator Robert Saleh might have to scheme pressure on the quarterback.

This isn’t a bad thing, necessarily, considering he’ll often employ eight men in the box. It will create overpowering mismatches for opposing offensive lines, allowing the best pass-rushers to get home.

One candidate for 10-plus QB takedowns this year is second-year defensive end DeForest Buckner.

A year ago, Buckner was the best and most potent member of San Francisco’s defensive line. And he didn’t have much help either.

Still, he managed to be tied for the team lead in sacks (six) and now has a healthy Arik Armstead back in the mix, as well as first-round addition Solomon Thomas.

An interior pass rush is something the 49ers have lacked for a long time now, so look for Buckner to be the candidate. And if teams scheme against both him and Thomas, perhaps Armstead is the guy in for a big year off the edge.