Nick Bosa's status as NFL's top defender reaffirmed by Top 100 list
Nick Bosa was voted as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year after the 2022 season, and his peers from around the league have made it clear they agree with that decision. The 49ers edge rusher, who is holding out amid talks with the 49ers over a contract that may make him the highest-paid defender […]
Nick Bosa was voted as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year after the 2022 season, and his peers from around the league have made it clear they agree with that decision.
The 49ers edge rusher, who is holding out amid talks with the 49ers over a contract that may make him the highest-paid defender ever, was ranked at No. 4 on the NFL's Top 100 list.
Patrick Mahomes, Justin Jefferson and Jalen Hurts were the three players above him on the list, with Micah Parsons his nearest challenger from a defensive standpoint.
The gap between Bosa and Parsons was significant, though, with the Cowboys star rising seven spots from last year as he was ranked ninth.
Bosa's promotion to fourth marked a jump of 21 spots from 2022, flipping the script on Parsons after an utterly dominant campaign.
Some will suggest Bosa and Parsons should have been closer together on the list given the latter's versatility and all-round impact.
Bosa and Parsons finished the regular season tied with 90 pressures apiece in the regular season, according to Pro Football Focus. However, in terms of sacks, Bosa had a significant edge, racking up 18.5 sacks to Parsons' 13.5.
They are a duo that will be compared for years to come as the two dominant defensive forces on a pair of NFC powerhouses. However, Bosa was the talisman for the league's elite defense, a unit that last year ended the season first by DVOA and Expected Points Added per play.
That status, and his remarkable proclivity for winning with sheer power as well as a well-stocked stable of pass-rush moves, makes it no surprise he is regarded as the league's premier defender by a wide margin.
The task for him going forward will be to maintain that reputation and justify the likely record-setting salary coming his way. Even after missing most of training camp, the smart money says a player renowned for staying in excellent shape will rise to the challenge by taking his game to another level.
49ers Training Camp: D-Line dictates but Brock Purdy receives lofty comparisons
There was no doubt defense won the day.
Featured Image Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
