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49ers stock report following Week 4 loss to the Cardinals

By Peter Panacy

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 01: Quarterback Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers is hit by outside linebacker Chandler Jones #55 of the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 01: Quarterback Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers is hit by outside linebacker Chandler Jones #55 of the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 01: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers hits quarterback Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 01: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers hits quarterback Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Defensive Tackle DeForest Buckner

Second-year defensive tackle DeForest Buckner is the 49ers’ best player on this side of the ball, hands down.

Buckner’s overall Pro Football Focus grade currently sits at 93.3 — No. 1 among all interior defenders, including standouts like J.J. Watt, Ndamukong Suh and Aaron Donald.

Buckner also leads all interior defenders with 13 quarterback hurries, and his PFF pass-rush productivity ranking is now 13.4, ranking third among the same qualifiers.

That’s pretty good.

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The sack totals haven’t exactly come Buckner’s way — he picked up his first in Week 4 — but that’s not exactly what’s important here. Instead, Buckner is proving to be a pocket-wrecking force capable of wreaking havoc within the pocket.

One can only imagine how San Francisco’s fortunes would be if there was a true elite-level pass-rusher on the roster.

Regardless, Buckner is turning into one of the better stories for the Niners and is a key reason the defense has enjoyed some new-found success over the first four weeks of 2017.

Next: Full Week 4 grade and analysis from 49ers' loss to Cardinals

Stock: Up