49ers have enjoyed these 4 positives despite sluggish start to 2022
By Peter Panacy
49ers positive No. 2: Charles Omenihu has been a nice revelation
The 49ers seem to have a knack for picking up castoff-type players, either via trades or from the free-agent scrap heap, then turning them into bona fide contributors.
Last season’s trade pickup of defensive end Charles Omenihu from the Houston Texans didn’t move the needle much, in terms of the Niners’ defensive potency. But it did help with depth, and San Francisco has needed that depth a good deal thus far in 2022.
Sure, Nick Bosa is receiving the praise for leading the 49ers in the sack department, but Omenihu isn’t far behind on the leaderboard with three of his own, those coming in a rotational role.
Niners Nation’s Jordan Elliott described why Omenihu has been so valuable to the Niners this season:
"The 49ers are getting this high level of production from Omenihu while he is making just $2,540,000 this season. Two and a half million dollars is an absolute steal when you compare it to the amount of money being made by players who aren’t producing at the same rate Omenihu is. Omenihu currently has a pressure rate of 13.6%, which ranks in the top 15 among players with at least 100 pass-rushing snaps this season."
San Francisco has long focused not just on star power for its D-line but also the depth, and Omenihu’s presence is paying off nicely.
Cheaply, too.