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5 players the 49ers need to watch at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine

By Peter Panacy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 03: Running back Dalvin Cook of Florida State runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 03: Running back Dalvin Cook of Florida State runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 1: Nick Bosa #97 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates after recovering a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Oregon State Beavers at Ohio Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 1: Nick Bosa #97 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates after recovering a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Oregon State Beavers at Ohio Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

Well, this is fairly obvious. But it’s for reasons other than the notion Nick Bosa is the consensus best player available in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Bosa suffered an abdominal injury early in 2018, which forced him to miss all but three of Ohio State’s games that year. He could have returned later in the season, rather choosing to sit out the remainder of his team’s campaign to prepare for the draft itself.

It was a business decision — one that makes sense, considering he was still viewed as a clear-cut top-five choice. Why risk injury or a complete on-field breakdown when his stock remained so high?

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That said, the NFL Scouting Combine will be the first real chance teams will get to see Bosa’s on-field efforts again after suffering his injury. By all accounts, his injury and subsequent surgery didn’t set him back against any draft preparations, so he should be good to go when the combine begins.

Yet watching Bosa go through all the drills, seeing if there are any setbacks or lingering effects, will have a notable impact on his draft stock.

The team to watch here, of course, is the Arizona Cardinals. They own the top pick in the draft, and it’s not hard to find mocks out there pegging Bosa to the 49ers’ NFC West division rivals. If Bosa puts on a show so convincing, one which essentially forces the Cardinals’ hand, the Niners may have to resort to a likely No. 2 option.

Either way, Bosa’s performance will be of notable interest for both Arizona and San Francisco.

Next. 5 players the 49ers must add during 2019 offseason. dark

The 2019 NFL Scouting Combine kicks off on Tuesday, Feb. 26 and continues through March 4 from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.