49ers depth chart: Power ranking top 10 players entering 2020
Dee Ford. 7. player. 42. . .
49ers EDGE Dee Ford
Edge rusher Dee Ford hasn’t been with the 49ers for very long, but it can’t be ignored just how skilled he is. Ford is among the league’s best pass-rushers when healthy. He was recently quoted saying fans of the franchise have not gotten to see his true ability as a pass-rusher, which is probably a fair point as he played in only 11 (two starts) regular-season games in 2019.
The reality is, when Ford is at 100 percent, he is a force to be reckoned with. It’s scary to think about the fact even with limited playing time, Ford still registered 6.5 sacks in his inaugural season for San Francisco and was often seen as the third-best defensive lineman on the team. The Pro Bowler will be playing with a chip on his shoulder this coming season, and with the departure of star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, Ford will be looking to step up and show fans why the 49ers invested so heavily in him.
To put things into perspective, Ford registered an 84.4 rating according to Pro Football Focus in 2019, which places him in the upper echelon of defensive ratings. There’s no question the defensive side of the ball would be significantly weaker without Ford in the mix.
Look for him to remind people in 2020 how dangerous he can be.