The 49ers ranked 12th in defensive EPA per play and eighth in points per drive (1.67) in 2023. They were still a very good defense by most metrics, but they had lapses at inopportune times and ...

Which means the 49ers' upcoming draft will be heavily defense-oriented. The last time the 49ers defense was this baren was 2017, which was Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch's first season with the team.

The 49ers are essentially starting over on defense this offseason. They have one good defensive lineman (Nick Bosa), one good linebacker (Fred Warner) and one good defensive back (Deommodore Lenoir).

The 49ers defense gave up just 17.5 points per game last season -- third-fewest in the NFL. And yet, they flat-out stunk on third down. In 2023, the 49ers defense gave up third-down conversions 42 ...

In 2023, the 49ers defense gave up third-down conversions 42.5 percent of the time -- sixth-worst in the NFL. Hard to fathom on a defense that has Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and Charvarius Ward.

SANTA CLARA — The 49ers had no intention of chasing goodness on defense in 2023. Aside from a sixth Super Bowl championship, the 49ers defensively aspire to be great.