49ers depth chart: Predicting Week 1 defense for 2020 season
By Peter Panacy
49ers Depth Chart: Defensive Line
Adding Javon Kinlaw to replace DeForest Buckner hopefully winds up being a seamless change. Re-signing defensive tackle Arik Armstead was a big move, too, and the hope is he can replicate his 10-sack campaign from a year ago.
A similar hope would be getting EDGE Dee Ford 100 percent healthy after he missed scores of last season with various injuries. Setting a pass-rushing tandem of Ford and second-year EDGE Nick Bosa is expected to be one of the Niners’ best strengths this season.
Still, thee depth is what counts here. In 2019, that depth was tested when San Francisco lost Ford for an extended period of time, then lost defensive linemen Ronald Blair and D.J. Jones to season-ending injuries.
By the time Super Bowl LIV rolled around, the 49ers D-line wasn’t anywhere near its level of potency.
Defensive end Solomon Thomas makes the cut, given he’s owed a good deal of money in the fourth year of his rookie contract. As a starter, he hasn’t panned out at all, yet he’s good enough a rotational player. Blair and Jones should be back in the mix, too, while one should hope for some ascension from defensive tackles Jullian Taylor and/or Kentavius Street.
As for the predicted 49ers depth chart here:
- Nick Bosa
- Javon Kinlaw
- Arik Armstead
- D.J. Jones
- Dee Ford
- Ronald Blair
- Jullian Taylor
- Kevin Givens
Givens flashed some potential last season, and his shortish 6-foot-1 frame makes him a solid candidate to back up Jones.