Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Predicting 4 2021 Pro Bowlers from current defense

By Akshaj Dwivedula

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 01: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner #99 and defensive end Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers react after a defensive stop during the second half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 01: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner #99 and defensive end Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers react after a defensive stop during the second half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 01: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner #99 and defensive end Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers react after a defensive stop during the second half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 01: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner #99 and defensive end Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers react after a defensive stop during the second half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

DeForest Buckner

If DeForest Buckner isn’t a Pro Bowler in 2021, then something has gone terribly wrong for the 49ers. Buckner is the most dominant interior presence the 49ers had since Justin Smith of the Harbaugh era.

Just look at this stat by Pro Football Focus:

The only thing stopping Buckner from becoming a household name is his sack totals. With only three sacks last year, casual fans don’t see how disruptive he truly is. However, with 52 pressures last year and a hopefully improved secondary, Buckner should be in prime position to make those pressures into tangible sacks.

Regardless of his sacks, Buckner remains the most important player to the 49ers defense. PFF writes how without him on the field, the 49ers pressure rate went from 11th in the league to last. According to Robert Saleh (h/t Niners Nation), that’s far more important than sacks to the 49ers:

With Buckner already ranking sixth overall at his position, by 2021 the Pro Bowl won’t be what he’s looking for. No, Buckner will be gunning for a Defensive Player of the Year trophy. This might be the easiest prediction to make.