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Ten second-year NFL players set to explode in 2017

NFL stars like Derrick Henry are set to explode in 2018

8. DeForest Buckner, defensive end, San Francisco 49ers

DeForest Buckner

Despite the unfortunate outcome for the 49ers’ season as a whole, Buckner had a promising campaign. San Francisco drafted the 2015 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year seventh overall in 2016.

Buckner started in 15 games, tallying six sacks and 73 combined tackles on the season. He also managed two fumble recoveries. Pro Football Focus rated Buckner 31st among all interior defenders.

Sadly, Buckner’s 49ers’ defense finished dead-last in the league in 2016. This is why Buckner makes for an exciting prospect for this list. The team’s defense hopefully has nowhere to go but up, which will be partly due to Buckner’s impact as he develops.

His six sacks tied for a team high with Ahmad Brooks. One of the many tasks at hand for the 49ers would be for Buckner and his fellow defensive linemen to manage more quarterback pressures and sacks in 2017.

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