Niner Noise
FanSided

Recapping the 49ers’ Actions in the 2017 NFL Draft

By Logan Stanley

Feb 9, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch during a press conference at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch during a press conference at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reuben Foster (10) during warm-ups before the 2016 CFP Semifinal against the Washington Huskies at the Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Washington 24-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reuben Foster (10) during warm-ups before the 2016 CFP Semifinal against the Washington Huskies at the Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Washington 24-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Best Draft Pick

The selection of Alabama linebacker is my favorite from this year’s draft class. It was first being rumoured that the 49ers were debating between defensive end Solomon Thomas and Foster at No. 2. To get a player at the end of the draft that you were once considering at the top is a steal. Getting two of your top three players on your big board is a coup. Not to mention that San Francisco was most likely going to select Foster if Chicago took Thomas. They ended up with both, and with an additional three-round pick next year. Basically, this pick was free.

As for the player himself, the 49ers may have just gotten the draft’s best linebacker at great value. Foster was being viewed as a top-10 player before a draft day slide caused by a slew of events that included an incident with a combine hospital worker which caused him to be sent home and a failed drug test for a diluted sample, as well as the injury concerns surrounding his shoulder. Foster says he’s making progress on the rehab and there’s no need to worry. Regarding any character concerns, Lynch said they did their due diligence (h/t SF Gate’s Eric Branch):

"Lynch said the 49ers were “exhaustive” in their research of Foster, whom they met with at the combine and hosted for a pre-draft visit. Both Lynch and Shanahan also spoke with Foster on the phone, and the team spent vice president of football affairs Keena Turner and pastor Earl Smith to meet with Foster for two days in Tuscaloosa, Ala."

The 49ers obviously felt comfortable enough with Foster and believe in him. And they’re getting quite the player. During his final season at Alabama, Foster recorded 115 total tackles while en route to winning the Dick Butkus award, given to the nation’s top linebacker.

Paired with fellow linebacker NaVorro Bowman, Foster will have the chance to learn from one of the best in the league. It’ll be the 49ers’ chance to reclaim their linebacking prowess.

I’ll end with this quote from Foster and what he strives for: