It felt like a formality. Nick Bosa, the 49ers’ rookie defensive end, was named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year on Saturday night at the NFL Honors ceremony. He won two other unofficial DROY awards, and was the favorite to win the official version.
While Bosa’s 9.0 sacks weren’t the most among first-year players, he had a massive impact on a once-anemic 49ers pass rush, and his presence off the edge was apparent even when he wasn’t racking up sacks.
He was constantly in opponents backfields, moving quarterbacks around and forcing them into sacks or bad throws. Bosa posted 25 quarterback hits, 16 tackles for loss to go along with his 9.0 sacks, and 80 quarterback pressures. He also shined as a run stopper, both setting the edge and flying down the line on runs away from him.
The three plays that separate Bosa from a typical pass rusher were three pass breakups he had in coverage.
He intercepted a screen pass from Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen after avoiding a cut block, then taking a step back and leaping to snag the throw. Then he rumbled 47 yards and nearly scored. In Week 14 he made a similar play where he avoided a block and then jumped to knock a swing pass out of the air intended for running back Alvin Kamara. Then in the playoffs, the Vikings had running back Dalvin Cook matched up on Bosa, and the rookie stuck with the running back for a diving pass breakup.
There weren’t a lot of ways to beat Bosa in his first year. He was excellent in all facets, and it’s hard to imagine he’s not in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation for a long time. A Rookie of the Year is just the start for the 2019 No. 2 overall pick.
