2019 NFL Draft: 49ers and Raiders headline top rookie classes
1. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers benefited from having Nick Bosa fall into their laps with the second overall pick. He deservedly won Defensive Rookie of the Year and both he and second-round pick Deebo Samuel would have had claims for MVP had the Niners held on in the Super Bowl.
Samuel finished the regular season with 961 yards and six touchdowns and is well on his way to becoming one of the most dynamic skill position players in the league with his abilities as a receiver and as a runner.
Fourth-round punter Mitch Wishnowsky was solid if unspectacular, downing 23 of his 52 punts inside the 20, but the Niners’ steal of the draft was fifth-round linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
Greenlaw made the most significant play of the regular season for the Niners with his goal-line stop of Jacob Hollister in Week 17 and seamlessly made the transition from backup to starter when Kwon Alexander tore his pectoral.
Sixth-rounder Justin Skule performed admirably when he had to deputize for Joe Staley and is a candidate to be the Niners’ swing tackle next season.
Next. 2020 NFL Draft: Pre-Combine top-10 safety Prospects in deep group. dark
The 49ers’ top two picks were pivotal to them reaching the Super Bowl, and the gems they unearthed later in the draft also made substantial contributions. From top to bottom, theirs was the rookie class that performed to the highest level from the 2019 NFL Draft.