The San Francisco 49ers looked to upgrade several positions on the roster this season, with the defensive line being a key priority for the team.
The 49ers ranked dead last in the NFL in sacks last year, as injuries and talent issues derailed the team’s pass rush. Against the run, the 49ers were 20th in yards per carry, so there needed to be some improvements there as well.
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Part of that would come from development. The 49ers drafted three defensive linemen last season, and we saw growth from them throughout the year. Mykel Williams, taken in the first round, was seen as more of a developmental player with a high ceiling, and we saw him grow until he tore his ACL midway through the year. Alfred Collins was brought in to help the run defense, and we definitely saw growth from both him and C.J. West as the year went along.
But the 49ers needed that experienced veteran with pass-rushing prowess, which is why they went out and traded for Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. The price was definitely notable, as the 49ers sent a third-round pick to Dallas, but San Francisco got a player under team control for the next two years who has been an above-average pass rusher by pressure rate and pass rush win rate.
And, they’re seeing the impact come out early in the offseason.
“I’ve been extremely impressed with him since the day he got here,” Shanahan said about Odighizuwa. “I mean, I’ve heard about it. It was advertised. I always knew about him just from tape. Once we traded for him, all the phone calls we got and the type of guy he is.
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“But, I mean, he’s been one of the best leaders on the team so far. Just how he works, how thorough he is on everything, what he does on his own, bringing guys along with him. Everyone from Dallas told us this, and it’s been that way. He’s been a stud.”
With Nick Bosa and other veterans still rehabbing from injury, it’s good to see Odighizuwa take a leadership role in a young defensive line room, with many players looking to grow with a full offseason at their disposal. Now that Odighizuwa is in the fold, the 49ers seem to have a good plan at defensive tackle. They’ve got a quality, experienced three-down player that they can rotate their younger defensive tackles alongside, helping create more 1-on-1 opportunities and further development.
