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San Francisco 49ers: Full Prediction of 53-Man Roster in 2016

By Bryan Knowles

January 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Chip Kelly addresses the media in a press conference after being introduced as the new head coach for the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Chip Kelly addresses the media in a press conference after being introduced as the new head coach for the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) celebrates after the 49ers recovered an onside kick during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) celebrates after the 49ers recovered an onside kick during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

Linebackers

Starters: Ahmad Brooks, NaVorro Bowman, Gerald Hodges, Aaron Lynch
Reserves: Eli Harold, Tank Carradine, Michael Wilhoite, Nick Bellore, Shayne Skov
On the Bubble: Corey Lemonier, Desmond Bishop, Ray Ray Armstrong, Jason Fanaika, Wynton McManis, Lenny Jones

NaVorro Bowman and Aaron Lynch are the two stars of this defense; neither is going anywhere for a long time.

If the 49ers were looking to move on from Ahmad Brooks, they likely would have cut him already.  I’m sure they hope that Eli Harold or the moving Tank Carradine will out-perform him and take his starting job in the near future, but for now, I have Brooks penciled in as the starter.

The starter next to Bowman inside is more wide open, with both Gerald Hodges and Michael Wilhoite battling for that slot.  Wilhoite was the starter last season, and didn’t overly impress.  No one was really signed to replace him, so if the 49ers are looking for a change there, Hodges is the most logical replacement.  He looked a little better in starts after Wilhoite got hurt, but I would call him far from a lock.

That leaves a couple slots on the roster, and three linebackers really battling it for the spot—Corey Lemonier, Nick Bellore and Shayne Skov.  Skov and Bellore contribute more on special teams, so I see Lemonier as the odd man out there.

Next: Defensive Backs