There may not be a more important position for the 49ers than defensive end. Their pass rush is the centerpiece of their defense and finding disruptive edge rushers is paramount to fielding an elite defensive unit.
This offseason they’ve made a couple of smaller moves to help replace the loss of Arden Key who posted 6.5 sacks for San Francisco last season. There were splashes to be made, but instead they’ve chosen to rely on depth and getting another player to reach an untapped potential the way Key did a season ago.
Nick Bosa sits atop their depth chart after his 15.5 sacks last year. After that there’s talent, but with that talent comes plenty of question marks.
Let’s take a look at their DE depth going into the 2022 draft: