How a Switch to a 4-3 Defense Shakes Up the 49ers 2017 NFL Draft Plans
By Peter Panacy
Linebackers and Scheme Fits
We don’t have to worry too much, aside from injury recovery, about linebacker NaVorro Bowman’s return to form and/or scheme fit. He’d be fine as the 49ers defensive MIKE.
One should be moderately comfortable with fellow linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong who, for my observations, was one of the best Niners defenders last year before his season-ending pectoral injury.
Yet the 49ers need an upgrade over veteran Ahmad Brooks. If he’s on the roster and starting, that’s going to be a primary weakness within the front seven.
As for the prospects…
Linebacker Reuben Foster, Alabama
Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster’s shoulder surgery is a bit of a red flag, but it’s doubtful this keeps him off most teams’ radar in Round 1.
As Foster’s CBS Sports draft profile states, the Alabama prospect’s breakout year came when he was serving in the WILL role in 2015. If San Francisco bites, this is likely what they’d ask him to do as a plug-and-play upgrade over Armstrong.
Safety/Linebacker Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
It’s hard to make what Michigan defender Jabrill Peppers will be at the NFL level. On one hand, he’s good enough to play in the secondary at safety or up in the box as an inside or outside linebacker.
The flexibility is good and is a growing trend for NFL defenses. The problem is Peppers is probably best suited as a safety and not at linebacker. At least not right away.
This could cause his draft stock to slip, opening up the possibility for a Round 1 trade-down move or even a steal at No. 34 overall in Round 2.