2019 NFL Draft: Projected First Round after NFL Combine

Ohio State’s Nick Bosa has been the presumptive No. 1 overall pick for most of the season, but even if the Cardinals don’t elect to take Murray with the first pick, it’s not cut and dry any more than the former Buckeye would be selected with the top pick, or even be the top defensive player off the board.

Bosa’s performance at the Combine this week was underwhelming; he didn’t blow anyone away with his 40-yard dash, particularly in comparison to his competition (though he did outpace his brother, Joey), and his wingspan was considerably shorter at 77-and-a-half inches than his contemporaries.

Add that in with his injury past after Bosa lost the majority of his junior season in Columbus due to a core muscle injury, and there’s some legitimate concern around Bosa for the first time. He no longer looks like the unquestioned can’t miss prospect.

All that being said, I still don’t see Bosa getting out of the Top 5. I would personally place Alabama’s Quinnen Williams ahead of him on my big board, but Bosa fits a more glaring need for the 49ers than Williams does.

DeForest Buckner had a breakthough season in 2018 for San Francisco, but no other edge rusher for the franchise has exceeded more than 6.5 sacks in a season since 2013. Teaming Bosa with Buckner would give the 49ers a pair of feared bookends to build their defense around.

With Jimmy Garoppolo returning from injury, San Francisco could be a couple of pieces away from making the leap in 2019 that most expected from them last year.