Why 49ers' Nick Bosa is a top-5 defensive centerpiece

NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks recently ranked the top defensive centerpieces he'd build an NFL roster around. Topping the list are two dominant pass rushers—Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett—which comes as no surprise. Both are under 30 and widely considered among the league's most impactful defenders.

Cornerback Patrick Surtain II landed at No. 3, followed by pass rusher T.J. Watt in fourth. Rounding out Brooks' top five is San Francisco 49ers star defensive end Nick Bosa.

Bosa is coming off a 2024 campaign in which he recorded nine sacks—his first season without double-digit sacks since 2020, when he was limited to just two games due to injury. Still, his 91.0 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus marked the second highest of his career, showing he remains an impactful player.

"Nick Bosa is coming off a disappointing season by his standards, tallying nine sacks in 14 games in 2024," Brooks wrote. "But the five-time Pro Bowler and 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year remains a hot commodity in the NFL scouting community, due to his pass-rushing prowess off the edge. He's totaled 62.5 sacks over 82 games, including 18.5 in 2022, when he won Defensive Player of the Year."

Despite parting ways with several defensive linemen this offseason to reduce future spending ahead of an anticipated mega-extension for quarterback Brock Purdy, the 49ers continue to view Bosa as a cornerstone of their defense. Team management considers the 27-year-old an essential piece of the unit, now once again led by defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.

San Francisco aims to rebuild the defensive line around Bosa, targeting young, talented pass rushers in the draft to complement the savvy veteran.

"As a masterful technician with exceptional hand-to-hand combat skills, Bosa whips blockers with the kinds of arm-overs and two-handed swipes that could serve as teaching tape at an NFL coaching clinic," Brooks continued. "Given the importance of featuring a 'closer' on the front line who can wrap up a game with a key sack or pressure, the veteran's impact potential would be sure to pique the interests of team-builders seeking a blue-chip building block."

Bosa finished the 2024 season with 52 tackles (15 for loss), an interception, a pass defensed, and a forced fumble. If Brooks' assessment holds true, Bosa is precisely the kind of player the 49ers need to anchor their defense—and he'll be central to their plans to retool the defensive line this offseason.