Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 5 bold predictions ahead of the 2018 season

By Bobby Horne

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 29: A view of San Francisco 49ers helmets on the bench during their NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on November 29, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 29: A view of San Francisco 49ers helmets on the bench during their NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on November 29, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/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) /

No. 4: DeForest Buckner will have more than 10 sacks

Defensive lineman DeForest Buckner has slowly emerged as one of the NFL’s elite interior defensive lineman. In 2017, Buckner lead the NFL in quarterback hits among all defenders, according to Pro Football Focus.

He will continue his rise to be among the NFL’s best in 2018. In Buckner’s two previous seasons, he has amassed only nine sacks but the pressure he has put on quarterbacks has been undeniable.

Buckner will start turning those quarterback hits into sacks and put in one of the best interior defensive-lineman seasons of 2018.