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San Francisco 49ers: Biggest Winners & Losers from the 2017 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Solomon Thomas (Stanford) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as he is selected as the number 3 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Solomon Thomas (Stanford) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as he is selected as the number 3 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (55) rushes against Baltimore Ravens tackle Eugene Monroe (60) during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Ravens 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (55) rushes against Baltimore Ravens tackle Eugene Monroe (60) during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Ravens 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

Loser: Linebacker Ahmad Brooks

It seems as if this has been said for a while now — veteran linebacker Ahmad Brooks is a cut candidate for San Francisco this offseason.

And yet Brooks has managed to stick around. At least for the time being.

Brooks, 33 years old, is a situational pass-rusher at best right now. He hasn’t come close to replicating the efforts that earned him a Pro Bowl nod back in 2013. But the Niners haven’t found anything resembling a worthy replacement before the 2017 NFL Draft.

With free-agent linebacker Malcolm Smith joining the fray, and the Round 1 selection of Reuben Foster, Brooks’ spot on the roster is precarious at best.

Smith probably lines up as the WILL, or weak-side, linebacker not responsible for covering tight ends. Depending on Foster’s maturation, he’ll be the SAM, or strong-side linebacker. Bowman occupies the middle.

Brooks is left out.

Making matters worse for Brooks is the fact he’s entering a contract year. If cut, the Niners would save $5.3 million in cap space while having only $848,750 in dead money.

That’s nothing.

There doesn’t seem to be any reason for San Francisco to retain Brooks, outside of a preseason insurance policy against other players’ injuries.