7. Aldon Smith- Defensive players have seemed to get a little bit more love on this list so far. Aldon Smith is the second 49er on my preseason top-10 players list; Patrick Willis was number 10. When Smith was drafted, he was a situational pass rusher. In 2012, he became a starter and didn’t disappoint. His second season in the league impressed me a great deal. Smith comes in as the seventh best player on my 10-best players list entering 2013. This kid will be a star for years to come. At 6’4″ and 258 pounds, he’s as quick, if not quicker, than some offensive players. As a defender, your first step is everything and he has the ability to overpower anybody who is in front of him. Smith is a linebacker but can also get down in a stance as a defensive end. He’s a relentless player who won’t stop until he gets to the quarterback. He’s become another one of the top pass rushers in the league today. On a Monday night against the Bears last season, Aldon recorded 5.5 sacks. The next week in New Orleans, he became the fastest player to 30 career sacks with 27 total games, surpassing an all-time great in Reggie White. He’s the best defensive player on the hardest hitting defense in the league and I expect a monstrous season from him this year.
