Predicting the San Francisco 49ers Starting Lineup in 2017
By Peter Panacy
Defensive Line
Young defensive ends DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead aren’t going anywhere, so they should assume to be starters along the defensive line, if the 49ers maintain a 3-4 defense or switch to a 4-3.
Armstead (shoulder) is out for the season, and the injury likely hampered his less-than-stellar efforts against the run.
Assuming a fully healthy Armstead returns to poise in 2017, he’ll bookend the D-line opposite Buckner. The only question is who occupies the middle.
Veteran defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey has adequately filled this void, taking over for a largely ineffective Mike Purcell. Although the team sure wishes former-49ers nose tackle Ian Williams (ankle) was healthy enough.
Williams could come back, and Dorsey is a free agent next year.
Let’s go with a bolder prediction of the Niners re-signing a (hopefully) healthy Williams to help stop the run.
Meanwhile, defensive tackle Quinton Dial is about as good a reserve option as the team could have.