49ers 2017 NFL Draft Positional Preview: Linebacker
By Peter Panacy
49ers Incumbent Linebackers for 2017
On-Roster Players: Ray-Ray Armstrong, NaVorro Bowman, Carl Bradford, Ahmad Brooks, Tank Carradine, Brock Coyle, Eli Harold, Aaron Lynch, Wynton McManis, Shayne Skov, Malcolm Smith, Dekoda Watson
Linebacker was one of the few defensive positions the 49ers looked to upgrade via free agency.
Chief among these pickups was former Oakland Raiders linebacker Malcolm Smith, who will likely hold down the WILL — or weak-side — linebacker spot this season. Smith isn’t much of a coverage linebacker, and his 43.8 pass coverage grade, per Pro Football Focus, reflects this.
Fellow linebackers Brock Coyle and Dekoda Watson also came via the free-agent mix, likely to compete for depth and on special teams.
Of course, the biggest “elephant in the room” is NaVorro Bowman and his Achilles recovery.
Bowman noted earlier this year, via NBC Sports Bay Area, an Achilles injury is much easier to deal with than the gruesome ACL/MCL tear he suffered back in 2014 at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks.
Still, there’s no guaranteeing he’ll be at 100 percent to start the season.
While nowhere near the same caliber level, fellow linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong’s pectoral injury will be a thing to monitor.
Armstrong played well over the preseason and into the first two regular-season games before suffering the injury. Considering he is a converted safety, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in coverage situations if things work out that way.