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5 Needs the San Francisco 49ers Failed to Address in the 2017 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

Apr 28, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; (l to r) San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch , linebacker Reuben Foster , defensive lineman Soloman Thomas , and head coach Kyle Shanahan pose for photos during the press conference at Levi's Stadium Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; (l to r) San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch , linebacker Reuben Foster , defensive lineman Soloman Thomas , and head coach Kyle Shanahan pose for photos during the press conference at Levi's Stadium Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 23, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) carries the ball ahead of San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (59) during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) carries the ball ahead of San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (59) during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2: A Pass-Rushing LEO

So much has been made of the LEO position in coordinator Robert Saleh’s defense. It’s the equivalent of a 4-3 right defensive end. But in this hybrid, the role can be filled with a traditional 3-4 outside linebacker.

It’s also reserved for the team’s best outside pass-rusher.

In an ideal world, linebacker Aaron Lynch would hold down this EDGE role and provide the most regular pressure on quarterbacks. But Lynch showed up to training camp a year ago overweight and missed the first four games while serving an NFL-mandated suspension for failing a drug test.

As a result, Lynch registered a disappointing 1.5 sacks on the year.

San Francisco is experimenting with the idea of using defensive end Arik Armstead as the LEO, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. The problem is the 6-foot-7, 296-pound Armstead isn’t ideally built as an edge rusher. If anything, he’s best utilized as an interior pressure guy.

Elite pass-rushers often go in Rounds 1 or 2. And the Niners used their first two picks on defensive end Solomon Thomas and inside linebacker Reuben Foster — not traditional EDGE players.

Sure, Utah’s Pita Taumoepenu — taken in Round 6 — could wind up filling this void. But he’s extremely raw and wouldn’t be anything but a situational player for some time.

As things stand, the 49ers could still suffer from a lack of pressure in 2017.