2019 NFL Draft: 5 pass-rushing options for the San Francisco 49ers
By Peter Panacy
General manager John Lynch and the San Francisco 49ers avoided grabbing a quality pass-rusher in the 2018 NFL Draft. But look for that to change with a deep crop of pass-rushers in 2019.
The San Francisco 49ers decided to table their glaring need for an outside edge rusher during the 2018 offseason, neither using free agency or this year’s NFL Draft to make a serious upgrade.
General manager John Lynch and Co. will roll with the options they have. But after finishing tied at 26th with just 30 sacks a year ago, it’s apparent the lack of an outside pass rush will hurt the team’s defensive efforts this season.
Through two preseason games in 2018, it’s apparent the lack of a pass rush is real. The Niners have just two sacks so far — one from rookie defensive tackle Jullian Taylor and a combined one between defenders DeForest Buckner and Solomon Thomas.
While preseason numbers are tougher to gauge, the lack of sacks is concerning.
Yet the Niners may be justified by putting off this shortcoming until 2019. Instead of reaching for a pass-rusher in what was otherwise viewed as a thin edge-rushing class this year, or overpaying in free agency, Lynch can look forward to what easily could be the deepest defensive line draft class in years.
In 2019, that is.
It’s anyone’s guess where San Francisco ends up drafting a little less than a year from now. Even if that number is in the high teens or late 20s, there will be plenty of top-quality options available. Case in point, every player from Clemson’s stacked defensive line should go in Round 1. Niner Noise even bothered to break that down earlier this offseason.
You can bank on seeing some of those names on this list of five outside pass-rushers the 49ers may look at when the 2019 NFL Draft rolls around.