INDIANAPOLIS – The 49ers are likely to take a pass rusher with the No. 2 overall pick.
And with the odds increasing of the Arizona Cardinals selecting quarterback Kyler Murray at No. 1, the 49ers might end up with the top guy on their draft board.
Former Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa would appear to be the most logical fit for the 49ers, who have making some alterations under new defensive line coach Kris Kocurek.
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“The two qualities when you think of Kris Kocurek, you think of the wide nine and you think of guys who, when the ball’s snapped, they’re going,” 49ers general manager John Lynch said. “The big deal is ‘cut it loose’ and that’s what we’ll be after.”
A wide nine is when defensive technique in which the ends line up to the outside of the opposing offensive tackle or tight end. The emphasis is on getting up the field and attacking.
When asked what attributes he wants from an edge rusher in that role, Lynch said, “I think power, having that power. And, hopefully, if you’re picking real high, it’s power, it’s bend, it’s all of it.”
Bosa has all of that.
San Francisco 49ers
On Friday, he measured in at the NFL Scouting Combine slightly smaller than his brother, Joey Bosa of the Los Angeles Chargers. Nick Bosa is 6 foot 3 ¾, weighing 266 pounds with an arm length of 33 inches.
At the 2016 combine, Joey Bosa checked in at 6-5 ¾, 269 pounds, with an arm length of 33 3/8 inches.
[RELATED: Nick Bosa's value goes beyond measurables]
Those measurements are consistent with what their father, John Bosa, told NBC Sports Bay Area before the combine when comparing his two sons.
“Nick is a little more advanced because of the mentoring he’s had from Joey," John Bosa said. "His combination is just scary. Nick is unbelievably, uncannily strong.
“As far as players, they’re both great players and they have a lot of similarities. But if you watch their games, they’re a little bit different. Joey is a little longer and leaner, has a little more of that edge, hand-fighting. Nick is coming along with that. But they’re both elite in slightly different ways.”