NFL Sophomore Watch: Is Jalen Hurts a franchise QB?

San Francisco 49ers defense

Despite their defensive coordinator Robert Saleh leaving to coach the Jets, San Francisco’s defense, which has been a frequent stalwart in recent years, should be good again in 2021. They’ve continually invested draft capital in their front seven, especially in the last three years.

2020 first-round pick Javon Kinlaw out of South Carolina missed the first game of the season this year, but, according to Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan is on track to play this week against Hurts and the Eagles.

Kinlaw is a gigantic freak athlete on the interior defensive line, which has become a common theme throughout the SEC. He’s 6’5” 319 pounds and recorded a pick-six last year against Jared Goff, as he dropped into coverage, caught the ball, weaved through some defenders, and leaped into the end zone. Even if Kinlaw can’t play this week, he’s a player to watch moving forward.

Two other young defensive players to mention for the 49ers are 3rd-year standouts Nick Bosa and Dre Greenlaw. Bosa was the 2nd overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft and had an exemplary rookie season, racking up 9 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and 2 fumble recoveries on the way to being named the 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Bosa showed exquisite potential in 2019, but his 2020 was cut short by a torn ACL he suffered in week 2 against the Jets. He seems to be back on track though, as he tallied a sack and 3 tackles for loss in San Francisco’s opening week win at Detroit.

Dre Greenlaw was a 5th round selection of the 49ers in the 2019 NFL Draft, and he’s made over 60 solo tackles in each of his first two seasons in San Francisco. In week 1 against the Lions, he was able to turn defense into offense, picking off a Jared Goff pass and returning it 39 yards for a touchdown, to give his team a 28-10 lead in a game they would go on to eventually win 41-33.

Just before this article was published, it was announced that Dre Greenlaw will miss 6-8 weeks with a groin injury.  His injury will seriously test the defensive depth of the 49ers roster.