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Reuben Foster: 31 other NFL teams made a mistake on 49ers linebacker

By Peter Panacy

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 7: Linebacker Reuben Foster #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide speaks to members of the media during the College Football Playoff National Championship Media Day on January 7, 2017 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 7: Linebacker Reuben Foster #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide speaks to members of the media during the College Football Playoff National Championship Media Day on January 7, 2017 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster could easily end up being the best player taken in the 2017 NFL Draft, which could show just how wrong the rest of the league was in passing on him.

Every team in the 2017 NFL Draft made a mistake by not drafting former Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster.

Each team, except the San Francisco 49ers.

The story is pretty well known now. Foster, widely viewed as a top-10 talent, slipped late into Round 1. Concerns over his surgically repaired shoulder and off-field issues made other teams pass.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Including the Niners, who spent their first pick on former Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas.

Yet 49ers general manager John Lynch traded down from No. 2 to No. 3 — a move that granted San Francisco three additional picks from the Chicago Bears. One of those picks ended up being the key piece for the Niners to move back into Round 1 and grab Foster at No. 31 overall.

The rest is history in the making.

Reuben Foster a “Once in a Generation” Talent

Before the draft, I sat down with Carolina Cat Chronicles — a video podcast covering the Carolina Panthers — and noted how 31 teams would all bow their heads and sigh when Foster was drafted, knowing that team’s defense just got a whole lot better.

Foster has earned comparisons to linebacking greats Patrick Willis and Luke Kuechly. Both players earned AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in their respective first seasons, and Foster could be the next in line.

In training camp, Foster is already starting to demonstrate signs of being all around the ball. Over the first four practices, the rookie has already recorded three interceptions — one shown in the video below:

“I guess the ball has a thing for me,” Foster said, via the team’s website.

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The Rest of the NFL’s Mistake Is the 49ers’ Bonus

Yahoo! Sports’ Charles Robinson was quick to point out the benefits from the 49ers taking the risk on Foster, despite the various concerns:

"Asked this week to revisit their opinions on Foster heading into the 2017 draft, personnel men from three different NFL teams told Yahoo Sports that there was a legitimate argument that he was the best player available. But all three echoed the same concerns, primarily that Foster ran with a crowd in college that raised serious red flags off the field."

Robinson went on to say how Foster is rewarding the Niners’ faith in him by dedicating himself to his new franchise:

"For his part, Foster said that he’s cognizant of the faith the organization has put in him. And it’s part of why he remained in Santa Clara essentially all spring and summer – not only so he could focus on his shoulder rehab, but also so that he could remain near the base of support the team has put in place for him."

San Francisco’s defense, which was so horrendously bad a year ago, now stands to reap all the rewards Foster has to offer.

Yes, there’s a long way to go before Foster actually earns the comparison to players like Willis or Kuechly. He still has to climb the depth chart to start, earn reps to stay with the first-team unit and make plays worthy enough of the consideration to even think of him as a great.

But everything is falling into place as it should, perhaps even more than expected.

Next: 49ers' top position battles to watch in Week 2 of training camp

And as all other NFL teams are watching Foster and the 49ers transform, Niner fans everywhere can start to thank the rest of the league for giving the rookie linebacker a chance to flourish in Santa Clara.