It’s unlikely that 49ers defensive end DeForest Buckner will be selected as the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. There’s a strong crop of candidates, including Chargers standout pass rusher Joey Bosa, Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Falcons linebacker Deion Jones, Bucs defensive lineman Noah Spence and Bears pass rusher Leonard Floyd.
Bosa – who had 10½ sacks in just 12 games – probably leads the field.
But that doesn’t mean Buckner didn’t have a fine season and lay the foundation for what could be a terrific pro career.
The seventh overall pick from Oregon was selected this week by a panel of ESPN.com writers who cover the NFC West as the division’s top rookie in 2016.
Though the 49ers were horrible at 2-14, Buckner was a durable, productive player who earned a starting spot at defensive end in the team’s 3-4 scheme. He tied for the team lead with six sacks, had 18 quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries. His 73 tackles were the most of any rookie defensive lineman and third most among defensive linemen in the entire league. He played 963 snaps, No. 2 among all rookies.
“There was no more impactful rookie than Buckner this season,” wrote Josh Weinfuss, who covers the Arizona Cardinals for ESPN. Added Sheil Kapadia, who writes about the Seahawks: “Buckner looks like he has a promising future, regardless of what scheme a new coach implements.”
Jim O’Neil, the 49ers’ defensive coordinator this past season, said Buckner had done an “unbelievable job” and is “the ultimate professional.”
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Buckner told Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group that he learned a lot in his rookie season about working hard, learning from his mistakes and keeping a positive attitude. This offseason he plans to work out hard and come back even better in 2017.
“I’ve got a pretty good plan going into the offseason,” he told Inman.
