6. Nick Bosa: As I always say, these fly by so quickly. We are already at the conclusion of the first half of this project. So far, a Two Quarterbacks, Wide Receiver, and defender have all been revealed. The final player from the first half of this is set to have his name shared. He was the second overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft behind Kyler Murray. That same season, he was named Defensive Rookie of the Year. Now, he’s the fourth player making his debut to have his name revealed with three more guys set to make their debuts. Welcome aboard Nick Bosa. He’s my sixth-ranked player on the list and my top-ranked defensive player entering the 2023 NFL season.
I’ve been watching him since his college days with the Ohio State Buckeyes and since then to this stage in the NFL, nothing much has changed. Since his rookie season, he’s shown you that he can match up with the best in the league. Nick is such a force once the game gets going. He’s such a smart player and knows how to maneuver his way through single looks and even double teams. To be successful as an EDGE player, you must have strong hands and Nick has always displayed that. He just knows how to position himself to get through. His motor never stops, and I say that because he could be blocked out of the play completely, but still finds a way to the Quarterback. Against the run, Nick is just as effective. He makes the tackle and wants you to feel it. I’ve always referred to him as the “Aaron Donald of the 49ers defense”. I’m not saying he’s Aaron exactly so calm down, I’m talking about how they build around him and how he is the centerpiece of that defense for San Francisco. I remember a play from his rookie season against the Carolina Panthers. Kyle Allen attempted to throw a screen pass, but Nick read it perfectly, intercepted it and took it all the way back for a touchdown. He has that eye and knowledge on where to be at all times.
Since coming into the league, Nick has continually climbed the ladder. Last season, he put it altogether and was the main force for a 9ers defense that was ranked number one the league in 2022. He finished his 2022 campaign with 18.5 sacks, which was first in the league. He had the best season of his career and was named Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts. He’s only going to get better. That’s the scary thing.
