San Francisco 49ers: ‘Keep or Cut’ Calls on 10 Notable Players for 2017
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: Linebacker Ahmad Brooks
At 32 years old, veteran linebacker Ahmad Brooks has already been the discussion of roster cuts for the past two seasons.
This year, with the Niners switching to a 4-3 defense, Brooks’ future could be in even more doubt.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee did an excellent job breaking down how San Francisco’s defense would look in this new scheme under defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. In it, Barrows points out how Brooks would have to occupy the SAM linebacker position.
It’s not exactly a fit. Brooks isn’t athletic enough to cover tight ends in space, nor is he at a point in his career where he can contain the edge against the running game.
There are contractual matters too. Cutting Brooks would save the 49ers $5.3 million in cap space with just $848,750 in dead money this year, per Over the Cap.
That makes this an easy decision, assuming the Niners can find an adequate replacement via the draft or free agency.