Niner Noise
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49ers 2017 NFL Draft Positional Preview: Linebacker

By Peter Panacy

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
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 /
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Dec 6, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Ka’Deem Carey (25) scores a touchdown with San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) defending during the second half at Soldier Field. San Francisco won 26-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Ka’Deem Carey (25) scores a touchdown with San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) defending during the second half at Soldier Field. San Francisco won 26-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

The San Francisco 49ers linebacker position was a critical weakness in 2016, which means the 2017 NFL Draft should provide some answers. Niner Noise tackles this position in our latest unit breakdown.

To say the San Francisco 49ers got stellar linebacking play in 2016 is about the biggest overstatement one can make.

True, the Niners lost starters NaVorro Bowman (Achilles) and Ray-Ray Armstrong (pectoral) early in the season. And fill-ins like Michael Wilhoite and Nick Bellore were less than desirable.

All this led to the 49ers boasting a historically bad run defense, and the NFL’s worst defense overall, a year ago.

More from SF 49ers Draft

Bowman is scheduled to return. But this is the second major injury he’s suffered in his otherwise standout career. Should we expect more of the same from him, especially as we wonder about age taking its toll?

And what about the switch from a 3-4 to a 4-3 base defense under new coordinator Robert Saleh?

If anything, this bumps outside linebacker Aaron Lynch — who was abysmal last year — into the right defensive end (or LEO) role this season.

Nevertheless, the 2017 NFL Draft should be an area in which the Niners make some improvements. It can even start with the team’s first pick.

Before breaking that down, let’s look at what San Francisco currently has.