2019 NFL Draft: 49ers rookie class producing impressive early returns

The San Francisco 49ers are 3-0, thanks in no small part to some substantial contributions from their picks in the 2019 NFL Draft.

The San Francisco 49ers are 3-0 for the first time since 1998, with their excellent start thanks in no small part to a rookie class that is delivering impressive early returns.

After being gifted Nick Bosa with the second overall pick — the Niners profiting from the Arizona Cardinals’ decision to select Kyler Murray first — San Francisco went into the season hopeful his and Dee Ford’s presence on the edge would transform the defense.

That has proven to be the case. The 49ers have wreaked havoc in opposing backfields, with Bosa already vindicating the assessment that he was the best player in the 2019 draft. He only has one sack but has 17 pressures over 68 pass-rushing snaps, according to Pro Football Focus (h/t David Lombardi of The Athletic), which ranks him first among edge rushers in pass-rushing productivity.

Though he did not have a sack against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3, Bosa’s ability to generate pressure was crucial to the Niners closing out a 24-20 win. A deep San Francisco defensive line invigorated by the additions of Ford and Bosa dominated Pittsburgh up front and ensured a potential Steelers’ game-winning drive never got going.

As a result of the moves the Niners made, their D-Line looks primed to become one of the NFL’s dominant position groups, with the likes of Arik Armstead, Ronald Blair and D.J. Jones playing the best football of their career alongside Bosa, Ford and DeForest Buckner.

Beyond Bosa, a number of the 49ers’ day two and day three picks have had a significant influence on their start.

Second-round pick Deebo Samuel already has 147 receiving yards and a touchdown and is a vital cog in the passing game. Fifth-rounder Dre Greenlaw has made the SAM linebacker spot his own while fourth-round punter Mitch Wishnowsky has made a solid start with three of his seven punts downed inside the 20.

Sixth-round tackle Justin Skule held up well in his first start in relief of Joe Staley on the left side of the offensive line and earned widespread praise from his teammates, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.

Undrafted free agents Azeez Al-Shaair and Daniel Brunskill have roles as backups at linebacker and tackle respectively on a San Francisco team that is getting substantial contributions from its rookies early on.

It remains to be seen whether the Niners are legitimate playoff contenders. However, if they are playing postseason football come January, it will be in part because of what look to be astute selections made by the franchise in the 2019 draft.