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San Francisco 49ers: 10 players who have a lot to prove in 2019

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 16: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a sack of Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 16: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a sack of Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

No. 10: Defensive Tackle DeForest Buckner

Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner finds himself on this list, not because of a lack of production, rather because he’s entering that crucial stage in his pro career where he’s poised to cash in on his first massive contract since joining the 49ers as a rookie back in 2016.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

The Niners already picked up Buckner’s fifth-year option for 2020, and the two sides have expressed interest in a contract extension.

But after Buckner recorded a career-high 12.0 sacks last year and remains the key figurehead within San Francisco’s defensive line, any long-term negotiations between the team and Buckner end there.

At least for now.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the two sides are far apart on a new contract. It’s early in the process, sure. Both sides have admitted such, and there’s almost zero chance the Niners and Buckner fail to reach some sort of agreement by the time his contract expires.

Yet if the negotiations trickle into the regular season, how Buckner performs on the field alongside the many offseason additions, such as Ohio State EDGE Nick Bosa and former Kansas City Chiefs EDGE Dee Ford, could be a significant part of the discussions.

Buckner doesn’t have a lot to prove, per se. Rather he merely needs to live up to the kind of money he’ll figure to get if no deal is reached by Week 1.