Niner Noise
FanSided

Which 49ers legend would you want on the current roster?

By Akshaj Dwivedula

17 Dec 2000: Jerry Rice #80 of the San Francisco 49ers is defended by Jerry Azumah of the Chicago Bears during their game at 3Comm Park in San Francisco, California. San Francisco went on to win 17-0. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn/ALLSPORT
17 Dec 2000: Jerry Rice #80 of the San Francisco 49ers is defended by Jerry Azumah of the Chicago Bears during their game at 3Comm Park in San Francisco, California. San Francisco went on to win 17-0. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn/ALLSPORT /
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12 Dec 1999: Charles Haley #94 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the field during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at 3 Comm Park in San Francisco, California. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 26-7. Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck /Allsport /

Defensive Line: Charles Haley

Ah yes, the beleaguered defensive line. The 49ers have invested four first-round picks and a second-round pick — in trading for EDGE Dee Ford — to make what has been a weakness a potential strength. Should the 49ers go all in by adding a dominant edge presence?

Charles Haley defected from the Niners, joining the Dallas Cowboys, which in some eyes disqualifies him from being a 49ers legend. But the production and talent he showed during his time in San Francisco was absolutely powerful. Haley’s best season with the 49ers came in 1990, when he had 16 sacks, completely dominating the league.

Haley would do two things to the 49ers defensive front. One, it would make defensive tackle Deforest Buckner look better than the Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald. With Haley and Ford on the edges, quarterbacks would fall right into the lap of Buckner, and he would rack up the sacks and pressures like no other interior presence.

The second impact would be Haley would essentially marginalize Nick Bosa. That doesn’t really matter; Bosa hasn’t played yet to prove he deserves a spot. A rotation would also serve to keep fatigue low and effort high.

Yet with the recent investments in the defensive line, it begs the question if the 49ers would want to add yet another face to a crowded rotation rather than solidify another position.

But then again, that’s what this hypothetical is for.