We’re a long ways away from the 2019 season getting going and even speaking of who would be team most valuable player for the San Francisco 49ers, but we’re a 49ers blog and we like to be optimistic so let’s chat about it.
Keep in mind we’re not discussing league MVP, it’s far too early for that, but just the MVP of the 49ers.
The San Francisco 49ers are coming into the season with high expectations and a whole new assortment of toys for Jimmy Garoppolo to play with and numerous additions to the defense. The big question is, who on this roster is the top choice for 49ers MVP?
The obvious one would be Jimmy Garoppolo. NFL.com’s Dan Hanzus had him as his choice for the 49ers team MVP. I’m sure a lot of you will go to Garoppolo as well. I mean, it’s Jimmy G!
I’m going to go in a different direction. I think it’s going to be DeForest Buckner. Buckner showed so much when he was the only guy on the defensive line in 2018, and now that the 49ers have put pieces around him (and Solomon Thomas has gotten his head straight after dealing with something greater than football) he’s going to be an absolute beast on the field. Offensive lines can’t double team everybody and Buckner is going to feast. It’s a reason why I said the 49ers need to hurry the heck up with that contract, because it’s only going to get worse as far as the money is concerned after 2018. Buckner was trying to make a campaign for Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 and while that didn’t go according to plan I wonder if that was all on Buckner’s performance or because the line was all Buckner.
Of course Jimmy Garoppolo could be league MVP as well. If he bounces back from that injury and starts shotgunning targets across his wide receivers, we could be seeing something special out of that offense.
There’s also George Kittle. I’ve gone on record saying he’s invaluable to the 49ers as a blocker and pass catcher, but I also don’t know if he’s going to have quite the season he had in 2018 now that there’s a gazillion different people to throw to once again.
We’re in June, let’s go ahead and make choices now. Who is your 49ers team MVP choice for 2019?