RADIO
49ers Defense 2020 Outlook: Regressing But Still Dominant
5 years agoThe San Francisco 49ers' defense was incredible last year. The addition of second overall pick Nick Bosa was a major key in shoring up a stacked defensive line and making it much easier on the secondary. The 49ers were capable of creating pressure with just four-man fronts and it made for the second-best pass defense in the NFL last season. This is a huge jump from 2018 where SF ranked 27th by DVOA. Going into 2020, the 49ers take a massive hit after trading elite defensive tackle DeForest Buckner away. While they did select talented prospect Javon Kinlaw to take his place, there is no guarantee that he can come close to replicating Buckner's disruption and impact. The defense is returning every other starter and should remain at worst above average, just hard to imagine them as good as last year. This defense will probably get draft much earlier than where savvy drafters should take defenses (the last two rounds) which means that you should be comfortable letting them go.
