Choosing Nick Bosa or Quinnen Williams is the best kind of problem for 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers have reportedly narrowed the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft to either Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams or Ohio State EDGE Nick Bosa. Both serve as immediate and exciting upgrades.

For the San Francisco 49ers, it’s like trying to decide which bright, shiny toy you want for Christmas the time their number is called early in Round 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft this April.

Do you take Quinnen Williams, the standout defensive tackle from Alabama, and create an interior presence that would scare even the most stout of interior offensive lines? Or do you take Nick Bosa, the EDGE long considered the best prospect in this draft class, and create a potent EDGE duo with new Niners pass-rusher Dee Ford?

If the 49ers don’t trade down, they really can’t do much wrong in the draft.

General manager John Lynch said it himself, San Francisco would go best player available in this draft. According to Charlie Campbell of Walter Football, the 49ers are currently torn between Williams and Bosa, considering Williams the more exciting talent, while Bosa is the safer pick.

Campbell would say:

"Sources with the 49ers were gushing about Williams. They think he is a rare prospect with an amazing skill set of speed and athleticism. Team sources also like Williams’ makeup as an individual, and they are very high on his immense upside. Team sources were gushing about how Williams dominated in 2018 in only his first season of real playing time. They feel that the sky is the limit for his potential.With Bosa, their praise was not as effusive. They like him and feel he is probably the safer pick, but they did not talk about him as being as special of a player or athlete like Williams is."

Judging by that, you may think Williams is the pick. But it’s clear Bosa may win out due to a bigger need at EDGE, even in the wake of the Ford signing.

Another factor is the first-drafting Arizona Cardinals may not go quarterback after all and grab either one of these two players linked to San Francisco, which would make the choice even easier.

There will be some that scoff at another defensive lineman, due to the Niners’ recent picks, but I don’t see any logic behind this. The only question is if Bosa or Williams will improve the team, and the answer to that is an easy yes.

They are the best players in this draft for a reason, and will help complete a potent defensive line that was a problem in generating pressure last season. Both fit in well for the team, too.

Bosa would fit in perfectly at the 4-technique (or big end) for the 49ers. Setting the edge to counter the run game is well within Bosa and his abilities, as well as rushing the passer on one side while Ford tees off on the other.

Young 49ers star DeForest Buckner has the 49ers set at the 3-technique, so Williams would fit in perfectly next to him as the 1-technique player. Both dominate the trenches well and are monsters in rushing the passer.

The only way one of these players don’t become a Niner is if the team trades down. This is a complex issue; what would it cost to give up one of these talents? Could the team even still snag one of these if they trade with, let’s say, the Oakland Raiders to move down to No. 4?

For me, it’s simple. I would want a treasure trove of picks before I gave one of these guys up. Analysts and fans are sometimes guilty of overthinking the obvious answer, trying to pick holes (see here for examples).

Be ready to see Bosa or Williams in red and gold, unless a team makes an offer too good to refuse. Every 49er should be wanting to welcome these incredible talents with open arms, as the 49ers make their defense even more potent for the upcoming season ahead.