NFL: One breakout star for each team in the 2018 season
. DE, 49ers. . Solomon Thomas. . team. 42
New general manager John Lynch made a splash during his first draft by moving back one spot with Chicago and picking up two third, and a fourth-round picks and still getting their guy.
Despite playing just two years at Stanford, Solomon Thomas stuffed the stat sheet with 63 solo tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks in 26 games. His production and projections skyrocketed him to the third overall pick in 2017.
Thomas started 12 games and played in all but two as a rookie with a ton of young talent surrounding him on the defensive line. Taking the starting job from Tank Carridine Thomas made just 12 quarterback hits despite taking almost 700 snaps for the 49ers.
San Francisco plans on moving Thomas to better suit his abilities as a pass rusher by setting him up as the LEO and moving Arik Armstead as a run stopper.
This change by the San Francisco coaching staff could skyrocket Thomas’ production next year and make him one of the best pass rushers in the league.