San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa had a good start to his Super Bowl weekend. The second pick in the 2019 NFL draft received the nod as the 2019 NFL Defensive Rookie of The Year at the ninth annual NFL Honors. Bosa finished the year with 47 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 25 quarterback hits, nine sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble.
The 2019 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: Nick Bosa
Widely regarded as the best overall talent in the 2019 NFL draft, Nick Bosa fell into the 49ers lap. Sitting at number two, the 49ers needed the Arizona Cardinals to not take Bosa with the first pick. And thanks to a new head coach and the rise of Kyler Murray, that’s exactly what happened.
Needing help on defense, the 49ers immediately selected Nick Bosa with the number two pick. San Francisco had just come off of a 2018 season that saw them give up over 27 points per game en route to a 4-12 record. They were last in the NFL in takeaways, and towards the bottom of the league in sacks. Bosa’s impact was immediate and effective.
With the help of Nick Bosa, the 2019 49ers defense was a monster of a unit. Not only did they allow under 20 points per game, they were sixth in takeaways, and also fifth in sacks. They also were second in the league in yards allowed per game. Their strong defensive play led the team to a 13-3 record and an appearance in Super Bowl 54. Not a bad turnaround from a 4-12 season the year prior.
Nick Bosa was more than deserving of this award. Above all, his consistent and threatening pressure off the edge presented trouble week after week for opponents. His 60 quarterback pressures on the year were the most for a rookie in the Next Gen Stats era. They were also good enough for the fourth most in the league. If Bosa can continue along this path, he’ll be a force for years to come in the league. Which is terrifying for opposing offenses.
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