49ers roster: 3 weakest positions following 2021 NFL Draft

No. 3: 49ers Defensive End

At least in terms of bodies, San Francisco’s crop of defensive ends shouldn’t be seen as that big a problem.

But there are a lot of question marks here, and the 49ers elected not to onboard any edge rushers from this year’s class. Perhaps that was a good move, as there weren’t exactly any bona fide pass-rushing standouts. Yet the Niners are going to bank on getting positive results from a unit that enters 2021 with more worry points than it should have.

The biggest, of course, is the hopefully healthy return of EDGE Nick Bosa from an ACL tear suffered early in 2020. The 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year makes everyone around him better, and him playing at even just 75 percent of his capacity should help get interior linemen like Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw playing back at a high level.

But ACL injuries can be tricky, and there’s no guarantee Bosa will return to form right away.

This would have been made easier if fellow EDGE Dee Ford didn’t miss all but one game last year because of a back injury and wasn’t questioned about being ready to go this upcoming season. Right away, San Francisco’s top two pass-rushers have major question marks heading into this season.

So, the 49ers are also pinning hopes on their free-agent pickup, EDGE Samson Ebukam, shouldering a bigger load than the rotational role he played with the Los Angeles Rams the last four years.

After this trio, the outside pass-rushing depth is still noticeably thin.