The SF 49ers’ Nick Bosa turned plenty of heads his rookie season last year, but 2020 could figure to be a career-defining campaign.
SF 49ers EDGE Nick Bosa should be in the discussion for the 2020 Defensive Player of the Year once the upcoming season comes to a close.
That’s just one goal for the Niners’ top pick from the 2019 NFL Draft, the player who ended up receiving Defensive Rookie of the Year accolades after an impressive nine-sack campaign in which he rose to the ranks of being San Francisco’s best all-around pass-rusher. Beyond the traditional stats, which included 16 tackles for a loss and 25 quarterback hits, Pro Football Focus recognized him with an outstanding 86.7 overall grade on the season.
For the record, that was No. 2 in the league for edge rushers. Not just among rookies.
There’s an argument players make their biggest leaps, development-wise, between their rookie and sophomore campaigns. In Bosa’s case, his first year at the pro level was already high-impact. Yet Bosa might need to turn the proverbial screws on his ability even more given the context the Niners are facing. In 2021, the SF 49ers could be without fellow EDGE Dee Ford, a potential cap casualty, and nose tackle D.J. Jones who is poised to hit free agency.
While it might actually help Bosa to shoulder a bigger load a year from now, his greater impact could be revealed as soon as this season.
So it’s time for him to get a bit greedy, shooting for these lofty goals in what could be a truly elite-level breakout campaign.
No. 4: Nick Bosa scores a touchdown for SF 49ers
Playmakers make plays, right? Regardless of position or role.
A defensive touchdown shouldn’t be out of the question for Bosa. After all, against the Carolina Panthers last year, he managed to intercept quarterback Kyle Allen and nearly return it for what would have been an improbable touchdown:
Granted, seeing Bosa pick off passes might be a rare occurrence. But getting his hands on the ball shouldn’t be too far out of the question.
He did, after all, recover two fumbles last season. And in the right situation, Bosa finding the end zone at least once might be what separates him from other top-level NFL defenders this upcoming season.