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San Francisco 49ers: 10 Dark-Horse Candidates to Make the 53-Man Roster in 2016

By Peter Panacy

November 14, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks cornerback Ugo Amadi (14, left) is called for defensive pass interference against Stanford Cardinal wide receiver Devon Cajuste (89, right) during the fourth quarter at Stanford Stadium. The Ducks defeated the Cardinal 38-36. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 14, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks cornerback Ugo Amadi (14, left) is called for defensive pass interference against Stanford Cardinal wide receiver Devon Cajuste (89, right) during the fourth quarter at Stanford Stadium. The Ducks defeated the Cardinal 38-36. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 26, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Utah defensive lineman Jason Fanaika speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Utah defensive lineman Jason Fanaika speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 6: Linebacker Jason Fanaika

The pass rush — one of many areas of ineptitude the 49ers suffered in 2015.

Last year, San Francisco ranked 29th in the league with just 28 sacks. While a lot goes into rectifying this, the “one can never have too many pass-rushers” argument still applies.

Former Utah defensive end Jason Fanaika was an undrafted free-agent pickup of the 49ers this past offseason, and he’ll be asked to switch over to outside linebacker in San Francisco’s 3-4 defensive front.

Over two years with the Utes, Fanaika posted nine sacks with a solid 20 tackles for a loss. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound prospect has a long way to go to make the roster, but the context still exists for him to make a splash.

Pass-rushing linebacker Aaron Lynch isn’t going anywhere and, in all likelihood, neither is veteran Ahmad Brooks at this point.

So Fanaika is going to compete with fellow linebackers like Eli Harold, Corey Lemonier, Marcus Rush, Lenny Jones and Ray-Ray Armstrong (who’s also competing for a spot on the inside). Tack on edge-rusher Tank Carradine, and this competition is pretty thick.

It’s doubtful the 49ers give up on second-year pro Harold. But Lemonier’s future is in serious doubt. A fourth or fifth spot on the OLB depth chart — depending on what happens with Carradine — is probably the best Fanaika can hope for.

CBS Sports did list him as a Round 4 prospect though, so it’s possible the 49ers give him some extended looks throughout camp.

And if his preseason pass-rushing prowess is well displayed, Fanaika could find himself clinging to one of the final roster spots this season.

Next: No. 5: Shayne Skov