Defensive Line
Note: I'm not going to separate lines and ends this time. Saleh system is usually set based on matchups and formations so I'll cover everyone in one shot
Deforest Buckner - Bucker so far has proven to be worth the 7th round pick spent on him in 2016. He has made an immediate impact on the defense and it's a little insane that he wasn't in the conversation as one of the best defensive players in league. But it's kind of an award based not just on individual accomplishments but team accomplishment, we were not a playoff team last year. No matter, Buckner is a monster at 6'7 a 300 lb frame with no real bad weight, a non stop motor and not just a willingness to get after the QB but any unfortunate sap that stands in his way. He's an elite player through and through. I think he's a lifer barring any major injuries and a future HOF player.
Skills: A
Peformance: A
Potential: A
Overall: A
Dee Ford - Dee Ford was added to our team via a trade for the cheap price of a 2020 second rounder. Dee had a breakout season and was top 10 in the NFL in every statistical category for a defensive lineman. He has 13 sacks, and FF. That's as many sacks as Thomas and Armstead have had their entire careers. Either way, he's is going to be again a system fit in Saleh defense. He is athletic enough to play in a 2 point stance or with his hand in the dirt. It's almost like cheating.
Skills: A
Performance: A
Potential: A-
Overall: A
Nick Bosa - 2019 #2 Overall Draft Pick. In my opinion I think Nick Bosa is the best player in this draft on either side of the ball and we got him. I know some of this site was higher on Quinnen Williams and even Josh Jackson because of Bosa's injury concerns, but in the NFL, I think the new training staff and coaches will try to keep him upright as best as they can. So far camp has gone without a hitch except I think except a minor hammy or quad strain so fingers crossed. I think Nick is actually a better athlete than his brother Joey and has the upside to be a better pash rusher than his brother which is saying something since Joey already has 28 sacks since the year he was drafted. I think Joey plays the run better, but either way Nick is an insane talent and more importantly is system fit. He should be an All Pro player for a decade plus
Skills: A-
Performance: A-
Potential: A
Overall: A-
Solomon Thomas - 2017 #3 Overall Pick. Solomon Thomas was picked as the #3 Pick. This was a head scratcher for most fans including myself, as I didn't consider him even the best defensive lineman in that draft (Jonathan Allen was better, imo). He is good against the run but so are some of the guys pick after him. He need to dominate this year, I mean he needs to look like a monster. I know he struggled with personal issues last season I get we are all human, but with the talent added to the defensive line, he is expect to be a beneficiary. He needs to take the next step because if the 49ers have a bad year, this will be the pick that gets John Lynch fired (particularly passing on QBs Patrick Mahomes or Deshaun Watson). He's still so he can change the narrative if he can contribute meaningfully to the teams success.
Skills: B
Performance: C
Potential: A-
Overall: B-
Arik Armstead - 2015 NFL Draft pick #17 Overall. I have not been as high on Arik Armstead as some. He was looked at in the same mold as Calais Campbell. A great hulking force who can work his way back to the QB or drive into the line stopping the run. Unfortunately Health has been a major issue. He has only been in 47 games since he's been drafted and has spent the past 2 in injured reserve in roughly halfway through the season. This is troubling considering he was meant to be corner stone of the defense when drafted. I also think that he had more value as a trade chip as teams like the Tampa Bay and Buffalo were in need of defensive line help the past 2 seasons and multiple rumor mills have stated Tampa had a pretty active interest in trading for him at one point. But we activated his 5th year option and which pays him over 9 million dollars, so he's expected to have the breakout year we've been waiting 4 years for otherwise he can test free agency. I think the other reason he is on the team still is that he is a big factor in the greater Bay area community, he hosts community events and is generally seen as an embassador to the team off the field.
Skills: B
Performace: C
Potential: B
Overall: B-
Ronald Blair - 2016 2nd round draft pick, Wait my bad 5th round draft pick.. Up to this point he has 10.5 sack in his career, in mostly limited minutes. Honestly he is flat out better than Solomon Thomas but because of his draft he's treated like he something of a scrub. I hope the revitalized defensive coaching staff realizes we drafted a gem. We need to give him snaps and minutes, this dude is a low key beast and because we drafted him we have the right of first refusal. In other words Ronald Blair will be the litmus test test of the front office. If he plays well again this season or even preseason. We need to be preemptive and give the man a real time contract. Its basically no risk and reward.
Skills: B
Performance: D+
Potential: B
Overall: C+
Sheldon Day - Cast off from the Jacksonville Jaguars. A former 2016 4th rounder, Sheldon has proven to be a really nice surprise. I though he could sneak into the roster but he seems to have all the makings of a career player. He is seen as a positive force on the defense. One of those first guys in last guys out, and he has talent to boot. I hope the coaching staff see this and finds more minutes for him. He seems to overwhelm 2nd and 3rd string players on our side and opposing teams and I expect that trend to continue based on his on and off the field measurables. He's only 6'1 but has long arms and good splits in short yardage, and he gets after it. That's kind of the thing a Saleh led defense demands effort and he leaves it all out there.
Skillls: C
Performance: C
Potential: B _
Overall: C
Kentavious Street - 2018 4th Round NFLDraft Pick. Kentavious Street is an addition to the training table Pro Bowl where he is all potential. Here is the thing. He wasn't a pass rusher even when he was healthy BUT, he is a pure run stopper. That is consistent. On top of that, he is still only 22 and has a year of NFL rehab. He becomes a black hole avoiding sille penalties and free yards, he will be a net gain. With that said he could just as easily get a release. He is a kind of a high reward low risk coin flip. But again if he stinks people will wonder why he didn't pick the best offensive lineman available especially when a few highly touted draft picks took a nose dive in that class.
Skills: C+
Performance: D+
Potential: B+
Overall: C+
D.J. Jones - 6th Round Draft Pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Man is a classic nose tackle of NFL teams past. Despite being almost an almost obsolete position. He has managed to remain on the team's 53 man roster. He's not a starter but he's an excellent depth tackle especially against the run. I think he will remain a depth player for 3 more years but I could be wrong if he continues to work on his craft. Most 6th rounders tend to be nothing more than special teamers but he has remained in the mix thus far.
Skills: C-
Performance: C
Potential: B-
Overall: C
Damontre Moore - 6 year NFL Veteran. Moore was looked at as a 2nd tier prospect in the 2013 NFL draft. Not elite but a solid career making 75-100 million along the way. Unfortunately he was fools gold. While he had all the measurables, Moore had sloppy technique and poor instincts. The Giants dumped him after 2 seasons and he bounced from fringe team to fringe team to the AAL where he impressed and the 49s thought he was basically worth a flier. I think he's a camp body but he has as good chance as anyone who has less NFL experience than him.
Skills: D
Performance: F
Potential: F
Overall: D-
Jamell Garcia Willams - UDFA from 2019 Draft. From the University of Alabama Bringhamton. Jamell has elite size at 6'8 250 lbs and he has great length and solid athleticism but his strength is under par. He has a shot to make it as a practice squad player. He really just needs to increase his physical and play strength and he can be a rotational defensive lineman moving forward.
Skills: D+
Perfromance: F
Potential: D
Overall: D
Kapron Lewis-Moore - At 29 years old Kapron has been a career journeyman, despite playing on defense first teams (Baltimore, Chicago, Jacksonville) he hasn't been able to secure the bag in a sense. At 6'4 315. He has the NFL size but he shows little more than that. He is a camp body to me not much more. I hope he saved his money and got his degree. He needs to start filling out job applications.
Skills: D
Performance: F
Potential: F
Overall: D-
Kevin Givens - UDFA from 2019 Penn State. Had some talent if not a lot of experience BUT Penn State usually produces solid defensive contributors so I could be wrong.
Skills: D
Performance: D
Potential: F
Overall - D-
Unit Analysis: Maybe the best group on the team from top to bottom. Our best 4 players all all 1st round draft picks and even the rotation players have pedigree. Football starts in the trenches and these are players are the first line of defense. If these players are what the scouts have said they have been or 85% of that. This is a borderline elite group and even the secondary and 3rd strong players are interesting.
Unit Grade: A-
they said MAGA Bosa out there taking on 2 OL and manhandlin them.
