Niner Noise
FanSided

Power ranking 49ers top 10 defenders in 2019 entering Week 7

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts to recovering a fumble during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Levi's Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts to recovering a fumble during the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Levi's Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 13: Offensive tackle Rob Havenstein #79 of the Los Angeles Rams and defensive end Dee Ford #55 of the San Francisco 49ers go for the ball after Ford forced a fumble by quarterback Jared Goff #16 in the second half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 13: Offensive tackle Rob Havenstein #79 of the Los Angeles Rams and defensive end Dee Ford #55 of the San Francisco 49ers go for the ball after Ford forced a fumble by quarterback Jared Goff #16 in the second half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 13, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

. . Dee Ford. 2. player. 42.

The No. 2 player on Niner Noise’s power rankings list of top defenders is none other than EDGE Dee Ford.

Ford has been quite the difference maker for the 49ers this season, and one can thank the Kansas City Chiefs for essentially swapping out Ford for former Seahawks EDGE Frank Clark, as pointed out by Niners Nation’s Rob Lowder:

Ford is leading the 49ers in a lot of pass-rushing categories, including sacks. And all one needs to do is consider he’s doing this with a bad knee.

Imagine how effective Ford could be in more than just strict pass-rushing situations if fully healthy.

Oh, and Pro Football Focus has Ford the No. 1 ranked defender in San Francisco.

So, if the Niners defense is arguably the best in the league and Ford is viewed as the best by PFF of that group, he has to be placed high on this list.