All eyes are on 49ers quarterback Trey Lance. His success will be the largest determining factor in how competitive San Francisco is during the next several years. However, while the team searches for its franchise quarterback, the youth movement on the defensive line will also be key to the 49ers earning a sixth Lombardi Trophy.
Since 2019 the 49ers identity has started with its defense, and more specifically its defensive line. Additions on the defensive front in three of the last four drafts have the club in position to build a dominant pass rush that takes some of the onus off of Lance.
Their dominant pass rush started in 2019 with Nick Bosa, who was recently named the best player in the NFL under age 25 by Pro Football Focus. Bosa is a budding superstar who posted 15.5 sacks in his return from a torn ACL that limited him to two games in 2020. He’ll be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate more than once, and the club has come to rely on his dominance on the edge.
