2019 NFL Draft: Predicting sack totals for first-round rookie edge rushers

Predicting the sack totals of the five first-round edge rushers from the 2019 NFL Draft.

There were seven players selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft who will be expected to help out right away in the pass-rushing department for their new teams. Some may be in a better position to succeed early-on than others but each of these players will have high expectations going into their rookie seasons.

Let’s take a look into the off-season crystal ball and use what we know to come up with sack predictions for the top rookie pass rushers in 2019.

Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers: 2nd pick of 2019 NFL Draft

When a pass rusher goes top two in the draft, it typically means the team picking them is desperate for help and will be leaning on this player to immediately rack up numbers with little to no help. Well, Nick Bosa lucked out because he will be joining a young, talented group of pass rushers on that San Francisco defensive front in 2019.

With opposing offensive lineman having to take into account guys like DeForest Buckner and Dee Ford, who combined for 25 sacks in 2018, Bosa shouldn’t have to deal with too many double teams as a rookie.

I don’t think he will have quite the immediate impact of his brother but expect Bosa to be a handful off the edge right away in San Francisco.

Sack Prediction: 9.5