Kelly identifies several NFL players age 25 or younger who could make up the NFL's newest generation of superstar pass rushers. In this instance, Kelly breaks down his list into four tiers: (1) Leaders of the Pack, (2) Not Far Behind, (3) Ready to Break Out, and (4) The Question Marks. Here's what Kelly had to say about Buckner, who was included in his "Not Far Behind" tier of pass rushers:
Buckner finished second among defensive tackles in pressures last year (52), per PFF, while notching three sacks, 19 quarterback hits (tops at the position), and 29 quarterback hurries (sixth). At 6-foot-7 and 300 pounds, there are few linemen with a better combination of length and first-step speed at the snap. As offensive linemen look to grab hold of Buckner, he often leaves them lunging, drawing on his excellent agility to sideswipe the block and move upfield. Oh, and he's got a pretty devastating arm-over swim move, too.
Since entering the league, Buckner has been a workhorse for the 49ers' defensive line with 134 career tackles and 9 sacks in two seasons despite drawing double teams from the opposition. If 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh can continue to progress the unit and find more pass rushing opportunities for Buckner, look out.
Some other interesting names that were thrown into the conversation were Seahawks' Frank Clark and 49ers' Solomon Thomas. You can check out the rest of the article right here.
Written By:
Justin Wong has been writing for the 49ers Webzone since 2017 while also running an NFC West blog and podcast called Just The West. Feel free to follow him, or direct any inquiries to @JustTheWest on Twitter.
All articles by Justin Wong
Justin Wong
Justin Wong has been writing for the 49ers Webzone since 2017 while also running an NFC West blog and podcast called Just The West. Feel free to follow him, or direct any inquiries to @JustTheWest on Twitter.
All articles by Justin Wong
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Former 49ers star says 'rest in peace' to Brandon Aiyuk's NFL career
Brandon Aiyuk has targeted just about everyone on social media this offseason—the San Francisco 49ers, his former agent, the NFL Players Association, and even his friend, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. Now, one former 49ers standout believes Aiyuk may have... -
49ers' Kyle Shanahan falls just short of AP's top 3 NFL head coaches
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is widely regarded as one of the NFL's brightest offensive minds. His performance last season—leading an injury-riddled roster to a 12-win campaign and a playoff berth—only strengthened that reputation. However, it wasn't enough... -
49ers Goldrush Transformers Review: Is Hasbro's NFL Crossover Worth Buying?
Hasbro's Transformers x NFL collaboration has delivered a unique collectible for San Francisco 49ers fans. One of the toy maker's latest releases, Goldrush, is a 5.5-inch action figure that transforms from an Autobot into a surprisingly detailed 49ers helmet, considering its... -
Where the 49ers landed in CBS Sports' NFL 'Triplets' rankings
Where does the San Francisco 49ers' offensive trio of quarterback, running back, and pass-catcher rank among the NFL's best? Jared Dubin of CBS Sports released his annual "Triplets" rankings, evaluating every team's top quarterback, running back, and pass-catcher to determine...