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February 15, 2020

Nick Bosa

Defensive ROY almost Super Bowl difference-maker

People like to play the blame game after the Super Bowl, finding someone most responsible for the loss. Kyle Shanahan and Jimmy Garoppolo were popular targets; part of the job description when you lose. Free from criticism, though, is Defensive Rookie of the Year Nick Bosa.

Bosa had himself a Super Bowl, with 5 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. With a more favorable bounce, that forced fumble could have turned into a takeaway and defensive touchdown.

Bosa had 4 sacks in his three postseason games, following up a regular season where he had 9.5 sacks. In the last 20 years, 19 players have had more sacks in their rookie seasons.

TOP ROOKIE PASS RUSHERS, 2000-PRESENT
YearSacksPlayerPos
201114.0Aldon Smith, S.F.OLB
200213.0Dwight Freeney, Ind.DE
201812.0Bradley Chubb, Den.LB
200612.0Mark Anderson, Chi.DE
200312.0Terrell Suggs, Balt.OLB
200212.0Julius Peppers, Car.DE
201111.5Von Miller, Den.OLB
200911.0Brian Orakpo, Wash.OLB
200611.0Kamerion Wimbley, Clev.OLB
200011.0Darren Howard, N.O.DE
201910.5Josh Allen, Jac.DE
201610.5Joey Bosa, S.D.DE
200310.5Kevin Williams, Minn.DE
201910.0Maxx Crosby, Oak.DE
201010.0Ndamukong Suh, Det.DT
200910.0Clay Matthews, G.B.OLB
200510.0Shawne Merriman, S.D.OLB
20109.5Carlos Dunlap, Cin.DE
20009.5Corey Simon, Phil.DT
20199.0Nick Bosa, S.F.DE
20149.0Aaron Donald, St.L.DT
20049.0Jared Allen, K.C.DE
20019.0Kendrell Bell, Pitt.ILB
20178.5Carl Lawson, Cin.DE
20118.5Jabaal Sheard, Clev.DE
20068.5Elvis Dumervil, Den.DE
20018.5Justin Smith, Cin.DE
20008.5Shaun Ellis, NYJDE
20168.0Yannick Ngakoue, Jac.DE
20158.0Preston Smith, Wash.DE
20138.0Ziggy Ansah, Det.DE
20128.0Bruce Irvin, Sea.DE
20068.0Tamba Hali, K.C.DE
20058.0DeMarcus Ware, Dall.OLB
20028.0Carlos Hall, Tenn.DE
20008.0Brian Urlacher, Chi.MLB
20197.5Brian Burns, Car.LB
20117.5Adrian Clayborn, T.B.DE
20117.5Ryan Kerrigan, Wash.OLB
20057.5Leroy Hill, Sea.OLB
20047.5Will Smith, N.O.DE
20197.0Montez Sweat, Wash.LB
20187.0Darius Leonard, Ind.LB
20177.0T.J. Watt, Pitt.OLB
20177.0Myles Garrett, Clev.DE
20167.0Leonard Floyd, Chi.OLB
20117.0Sam Acho, Ariz.OLB
20117.0Karl Klug, Tenn.DT
20027.0Charles Grant, N.O.DE
20026.5Kalimba Edwards, Det.DE
20026.5John Henderson, Jac.DT
20016.5Andre Carter, S.F.DE
20016.5Aaron Schobel, Buff.DE
20186.0Sam Hubbard, Cin.DE
20176.0Takkarist McKinley, At.DE
20166.0DeForest Buckner, S.F.DE
20126.0Chandler Jones, N.E.DE
20126.0Whitney Mercilus, Hou.OLB
20126.0Derek Wolfe, Den.DE
20116.0Pernell McPhee, Balt.DE
20116.0Brooks Reed, Hou.OLB
20076.0Gaines Adams, T.B.DE
20016.0Derrick Burgess, Phil.DE

Table shows all rookies with at least 6 sacks; there have been 63 such players in the last 20 years, so about 3 per season. That makes 2019 a good year; there were five of them (shown in bold). Two, Josh Allen and Maxx Crosby, had more than Bosa.

No question San Francisco has a good young nucleus of defensive talent, led by Bosa. It's a defense that should be good for a long time. If Garoppolo and the offense can take another step forward, it probably won't be Bosa's last Super Bowl appearance.

--Andy Richardson

Nick Bosa Maxx Crosby Josh Allen
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