SANTA CLARA — Year 3 of Khalil Mack’s truncated Raiders tenure saw him win NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Don’t look now but DeForest Buckner, the 49ers best defensive player, is entering his third season.
This should be Buckner’s breakout year. His teammates know it, his coaches know it – “He’s our best player,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said – and soon the NFL should know it.
What that means for Buckner’s future earnings is not his immediate concern. The 6-foot-7 Hawaiian native is an unassuming, ego-in-check player who’s had a quiet confidence about his All-Pro capabilities since the 49ers drafted him No.