
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.