49ers steal DeForest Buckner at 7th overall

The San Francisco 49ers have selected defensive end DeForest Buckner out of Oregon with the seventh pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Buckner was widely considered a top-five pick, with most pundits predicting the San Diego Chargers would draft him at the No. 3 spot. They decided to take Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa instead, allowing Buckner to slide down the board.

Chip Kelly recruited Buckner to Oregon and has now brought the former Duck aboard for his first season in the Bay Area. Buckner's selection marks the second straight year the 49ers have selected a player from the Pac-12 school in the first round after Arik Armstead went 17th overall in 2015.

The college teammates, who remain close friends, should make for a formidable pass-rush as Kelly attempts to bolster that area of the 49ers' game. The team ranked 29th in the league last season with only 28 sacks.

DeForest Buckner Bio

Position: DE
School: Oregon
College Experience: Senior
Height: 6-7
Weight: 291 lbs.

Strengths

• A difference-maker on every down. Wreaks havoc against the run and pass.
• Ideal blend of speed and power. Can run around blockers or over them.
• Generated more pass pressure from the interior of the line than nearly every edge-rusher in college football.
• Versatile enough to be deployed from several different positions along the line.
• Good vision and decisiveness. Locates the ball and tracks it down.
• Fast hands.
• Exceptional conditioning. Played more than 100 snaps in two games in 2015.

Weaknesses

• Produced fewer sacks than his pressure rate suggests he should have. May need to improve his finishing.
• Can be effectively managed with double teams. Must learn to fight off multiple blockers.
• Height can occasionally be a disadvantage. Doesn't always maintain proper leverage.

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