Burning 49ers questions: Will D-line be better long term without DeForest Buckner?
There’s no doubt the biggest decision the 49ers made this offseason was trading away talented defensive lineman DeForest Buckner.
The move had ripple effects for the entire roster and will test the team-building philosophy from coach Kyle Shanahan, general manager John Lynch and VP of football operations Paraag Marathe, while Super-Bowl-or-bust expectations waft around Santa Clara.
The 49ers decided they could only pay one defensive lineman due for a new contract, which led to looking at the bigger picture. That’s because the team has other important players with big new contracts around the corner. The players waiting for bigger deals include George Kittle, Fred Warner, Mike McGlinchey and Trent Williams, who was acquired to replace Joe Staley long after the Buckner trade.
It’s an oversimplification to say the team decided between Buckner and Arik Armstead, who signed a five-year pact that could be worth as much as $85 million. (Buckner, of course, inked a four-year, $84 million extension after being traded to the Indianapolis Colts.)
Buckner clearly had more trade value while the 49ers might argue Armstead was the more valuable player in 2019 thanks to his versatility — he plays defensive end and defensive tackle — and more sacks, 10 to Buckner’s 7.5.
The decision came down to two choices: Pay Buckner and trade Armstead for a second- or third-round pick, or pay Armstead and trade Buckner for a first-round pick.
Ultimately, the combination of Armstead and rookie Javon Kinlaw won out versus keeping Buckner and then trying to find a replacement for Armstead with a significantly less valuable resource than the No. 13 overall choice San Francisco got from the Colts.
The argument here is the 49ers still have two defensive tackles with elite upside. They likely would have had just one had they kept Buckner.
It’s simple, right?
Okay, it’s not so simple. Nor is evaluating if the defensive line will be better off in 2020 with Buckner playing elsewhere.
It will certainly look different. Buckner was a staple in the middle of the 49ers defense for a long time. He was there for the lean years, having joined the team in 2016 to play for Chip Kelly and a miserable 2-14 outfit. He played a big role in the team’s resurgence and helped set the tone for his position room with his leadership and work ethic. He was a team captain and Bill Walsh Award winner for 2019, given to the team’s most valuable player as voted on by coaches.
But instead of getting rewarded with the team that drafted him, Buckner was sent away to earn his massive $84 million payday elsewhere. In the very least, the organization signaled to other players they will reward a professional approach and production, but it might not always come in red and gold. Whether or not that plays well in the locker room remains to be seen. The most important thing to remember is money talks.
Buckner, of course, was among the league leaders in snaps played at his position since entering the league and only missed one game in four seasons. (Armstead missed 18 games in 2016 and 2017 before appearing in every game the past two years.)
Kinlaw, who will make roughly $16 million over the next four seasons combined, steps into an ideal situation in Buckner’s wake.
He won’t be asked to save San Francisco’s defensive line because there’s already a glut of talent around him. Namely, Nick Bosa, a leading candidate for defensive player of the year, Dee Ford, who’s expected to be healthier this season and more available than last year when he played just 22 percent of the snaps, and Armstead.
Kinlaw (6-5, 324) has more girth and is expected to be better defending the run than Buckner, who played roughly 25 pounds lighter last season. Buckner is a better athlete with more refined pass rushing skills. San Francisco hopes Kinlaw can turn into their version of Eagles star Fletcher Cox or Bears standout Akiem Hicks, which is reasonable given his size and skill set entering the league.
Will the 49ers defensive line be better for it in 2020?
If it is, it won’t be because Kinlaw is an upgrade over Buckner. That would be asking far too much from a rookie with no offseason program.
The way San Francisco’s defensive line likely improves comes from the players surrounding Kinlaw. If Bosa gets better, which is a scary thought for the rest of the league, and Ford is healthier, like in 2018 when he led the NFL in turnover-worthy plays along with his 13 sacks, the league’s best front four could be even better than last season.
If Bosa’s durability becomes a factor like it was in college, Ford ages quickly following offseason knee surgery and Armstead doesn’t replicate his breakout 2019, then it will be hard to look back at the Buckner trade through a positive lens.
Otherwise, the 49ers tried to thread the needle of maintaining an elite defensive line while also giving the unit a chance to stay intact for seasons to come.
This story was originally published July 3, 2020 at 4:00 AM.