Niner Noise
FanSided

10 reasons the San Francisco 49ers win the NFC West in 2018

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates his touchdown against Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates his touchdown against Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 11
Next
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 20: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after he sacked Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium on November 20, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 20: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after he sacked Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium on November 20, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 7: Defensive Tackle DeForest Buckner Becomes a Household Name

Quarterbacks hate elite interior pass-rushers. And the 49ers have one, third-year pro DeForest Buckner.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Buckner found his home as the Niners’ premier 3-technique defensive lineman. And the past two years have more than justified San Francisco’s selection of him No. 7 overall back in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Unfortunately, all the other 49ers investments along the D-line haven’t quite met expectations, forcing Buckner to shoulder most of the load. He’s done well in this, finishing as Pro Football Focus‘ No. 6 overall ranked interior defender with a 90.4 overall grade.

But Buckner’s impact hasn’t resulted in the traditional stats that would generate a much bigger buzz. He had a mere three sacks last season, and that’s probably a reason Buckner failed to crack NFL Network’s list of the top 100 players of 2018.

It’s a slight, sure. Yet let’s envision a very-possible scenario Solomon Thomas improves on his rookie season. That, plus a full year of continuity of front-seven personnel, serves to make Buckner a serious force this season.

Meanwhile, everyone is still talking about the Rams and that “elite” pairing of defensive tackles Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh.

What if Thomas and Buckner are the guys to talk about in 2018?

Speaking of those Rams again…