San Francisco 49ers: Creating the Ideal Roster in 2017

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December 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) tackles Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard (25) during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Linebackers

Inside Linebackers: NaVorro Bowman, Reuben Foster (Alabama, Round 1)

Outside Linebackers: Aaron Lynch, Melvin Ingram (free agency)

Let’s all hope linebacker NaVorro Bowman comes back healthy from his season-ending Achilles injury in 2016. But San Francisco clearly needs someone to pair with him.

Enter Alabama inside linebacker Reuben Foster.

The scenario is this — San Francisco trades down from the No. 2 overall pick to No. 5 with the Tennessee Titans, picking up a second first-round pick (No. 16 overall) as well. And the Niners use that fifth pick on Foster.

Jan 7, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reuben Foster (10) speaks to media during the Alabama Crimson Tide media day at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

More on the 16th pick later. Let’s worry about the outside now.

Gone is veteran linebacker Ahmad Brooks, and the Niners save $7.8 million in cap space. Fellow linebacker Aaron Lynch stays in a starting role but is featured more as a strict pass-rusher.

And the 49ers go ahead and ink free-agent linebacker Melvin Ingram to a three-year, $30 million deal to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines and to defend well against the run also.