The offseason is the best time to make predictions on next season. There will be 49ers breakout players in 2023, just like every season, but who is the question? The San Francisco 49ers have a stacked defense with Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, Talanoa Hufanga, and more. There are a couple of players on the roster who have the chance to make a big splash this year. Here is a look at the predicted 49ers breakout players on defense for the 2023 season.
49ers Breakout Players: Defense
The list will currently only have players who have had at least one year in the NFL. These players are predicted to make a big jump this season.
San Francisco 49ers DE Drake Jackson – Eakin Howard/Getty Images
Drake Jackson
Defensive end Drake Jackson is expected to make a big jump this coming season. Jackson was fine in his rookie season but was beaten out for the starting spot by Charles Omenihu. New defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has already expressed that Jackson has been putting in a lot of work this offseason. Of course, he now needs to produce on the field, but the work he has put in is visibly seen. Jackson has gained the appropriate amount of weight as well. David Lombardi tweeted that Jackson is up to 265 pounds, which is the team’s target weight for him. This can help Jackson become one of the 2023 49ers breakout players.
In the 2022 season, Jackson played in most games until playoffs came. The rookie became a healthy scratch during the playoffs. He did not start in any games but did play in 15. In those 15 games, Jackson had 14 combined tackles, eight of which were solo, six quarterback hits, and three tackles for loss. What stands out is that Jackson was only a part of the rotation and still had three sacks, according to Pro Football Reference.
Jackson also had eight pass deflections and one interception. This is just a small sample size of what Jackson can do. He is projected to be a starter this season but still needs to prove himself. If he gets more playing time, Jackson can be one of the 2023 49ers breakout players this season.
San Francisco 49ers CB Deommodore Lenoir – Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Deommodore Lenoir
Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir did not have a bad season in 2022 and, throughout the year, showed a lot of progress. While he did well in 2022, he will be one of the 49ers breakout players in 2023. Now that he has about a year of experience as a starter, Lenoir has a solid chance to truly make a difference in 2023.
Lenoir is heading into his third season in the NFL. He did not play much in 2021, but when Emmanuel Moseley was out with a season-ending injury last season, Lenoir was put in the starting spot. Lenoir ended up starting in 13 games in 2022 but did play in all 17 regular season games. In the 2022 regular season, Lenoir had five pass deflections and one interception for eight yards, according to Pro Football Reference. He also had one sack, six tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits. He may have had a strong 2022 season, but expect him to make a big splash in 2023.
San Francisco 49ers CB Samual Womack III – Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Sammy Womack
Cornerback Sammy Womack never got a true 2022 season. He was mainly put on special teams in 2022, but there is a chance that he can be played more in 2023. During the 2022 pre-season, Womack’s name was brought up often as he stood out to fans; he just never had a solid shot aside from the special teams unit. This is a common trend with San Francisco, though, and if he is given a shot, he can be one of the 2023 49ers breakout players on the defense.
In 2022, Womack did have one interception. He also had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, according to Pro Football Reference. Heading into his second season with the team, Womack will also have a defensive coordinator who has a history of coaching defensive backs. This can help form him into a solid player.
The San Francisco 49ers already have a strong defense, but if these potential 49ers breakout players can do it, expect the defense to stand out in the league.
