NFL analyst ranks two 49ers DL in top 15 on elite list
The San Francisco 49ers have a great defense heading into the 2023 season and even had two guys ranked in the top 15 on one elite list.The 2023 season will be predicated on the 49ers' defense – as Fred Warner recently said, defense wins championships, and that's what will end up winning this team one […]
The San Francisco 49ers have a great defense heading into the 2023 season and even had two guys ranked in the top 15 on one elite list.
The 2023 season will be predicated on the 49ers' defense – as Fred Warner recently said, defense wins championships, and that's what will end up winning this team one if they do get the chance.
Sure, this offense can be really good, as is any Shanahan offense. However, the defense is where they will make their money, just like they have the last handful of seasons. This season, we can expect the defense to be pretty good again, especially when you consider some of the moves they made in the offseason.
One of those moves was signing Javon Hargrave, one of the best interior defensive linemen in the league. Now, that has them as one of the best duos on the interior of the defensive line. One NFL analyst ranked both of those guys in the top 15.
13. JAVON HARGRAVE, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS Hargrave secured a massive contract this offseason from the 49ers after producing impressive PFF pass-rush grades with the Eagles. He hasn’t been great against the run over the past three seasons, but his pass-rushing dominance makes that easier to digest. He has generated 129 total pressures on 995 pass-rushing snaps over the past two seasons.
15. ARIK ARMSTEAD, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS Armstead’s 63.4 PFF grade last season was the second lowest of his career. His versatility has seen him play both as an interior and edge defender, though, so he brings added value in that regard. Armstead perenially achieves PFF pass-rush grades of 65.0 or better and recorded 30 pressures on 306 pass-rushing snaps last season.
– Gordon McGuinness, PFF
There is only one other team on this list that has two guys on the interior, which is the New York Giants with Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams. But, factoring in who the 49ers have on the edge too, I'd say this means they have the best defensive front in all of the NFL.
Nick Bosa is arguably the best defensive player in the NFL, and he's on the edge. Armstead is a beast and a veteran who has been doing this for some time now. Javon Hargrave was one of the biggest reasons the Philadelphia Eagles nearly broke the single-season sacks record last year.
This unit is going to be very, very good next year, and the interior part of the line is a huge reason why.
Featured Image Via Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
