San Francisco 49ers: Ranking 5 biggest offseason targets in 2019
By Peter Panacy
Just like Niner Noise’s last mock draft, the No. 1 player on San Francisco’s offseason wish list is likely the No. 1 player on nearly every NFL Draft analyst’s big boards heading into 2019.
Ohio State EDGE Nick Bosa, of course.
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Sure, Bosa sitting out the rest of his final collegiate year to recover from an abdominal injury might have rubbed some people the wrong way. But it’s hard to fault him with the understanding he’s already pegged as a top-three pick in April’s draft. Any setbacks or further injury could be devastating to his draft stock. Why risk it?
At any rate, the prolific pass-rusher fits the bill of what the 49ers need heading into 2019. Sure, the team has 25 sacks on the year, which is tied for 18th. But eight of those came against an inept Oakland Raiders offensive line back in Week 9. Outside of that contest, the Niners have struggled to get any sort of outside pressure on opposing quarterbacks, which has ultimately played into the 49ers defense ranking seventh worst in points allowed (266) and dead last in turnovers generated (five).
Pressure solves a lot of those issues. Right now, the Niners don’t have much from the exterior.
Whether or not San Francisco winds up with Bosa is contingent on draft positioning. This isn’t an argument the 49ers should tank over the rest of the season, per se. But if Bosa’s name is available at any point where the Niners select this April, there should absolutely be zero hesitation on the part of John Lynch.
3 49ers with a lot riding on final six games of 2018. dark. Next
Maybe we should hope for that No. 1 overall pick after all.