Every defense has levels. The defensive line is where the edge rushers and interior players live, the linebackers patrol the middle of the field and the secondary covers the rest of the field behind the defense.
As such, teams want top-tier talent at all three levels, top to bottom. The San Francisco 49ers have one of the best trios of defensive stars at those three sections of the field, according to Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano. He ranked the 49ers’ group of Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and Deommodore Lenoir as the seventh-best triplets in the league heading into the 2026 season.
The names are impressive, but this trio has plenty to prove after Bosa and Warner missed most of the 2025 season due to injuries. They’re also getting closer to 30, but Warner was playing at an elite level before sustaining a broken ankle in October. He might have been in the running for Defensive Player of the Year had he stayed healthy.
As for Bosa, it’s been a while since we’ve seen dominance from him. His play has declined since recording 18.5 sacks in 2022. Perhaps Bosa does more damage playing next to new teammate Osa Odighizuwa, whom the 49ers acquired in a trade with the Cowboys.
Some of this high ranking is based on pedigree alone, as Bosa and Warner are still elite but have some question marks heading into the season while they recover from 2025 injuries. The 49ers could do with a better top secondary player as well, although Lenoir is no slouch.
While this group didn’t have a great season this past year, the trio is still an elite group that should continue to wreak havor on opposing offenses with new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris at the controls.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers defensive trio ranks among NFL’s best despite major injuries
Reporting by Oliver G., Niners Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Oliver G., Niners Wire | USA TODAY Network
