San Francisco 49ers: Looking at locks and bubble-watch players after the NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
Linebacker
Ray-Ray Armstrong, NaVorro Bowman, Ahmad Brooks, Brock Coyle, Reuben Foster, Eli Harold, Aaron Lynch, Malcolm Smith, Dekoda Watson
The biggest offseason at linebacker, of course, was former Alabama star Reuben Foster at the tail end of the NFL Draft’s Round 1.
San Francisco 49ers
Foster is a plug-and-play starter, if healthy, and he’ll join a healthy (hopefully) NaVorro Bowman and likely Malcolm Smith, who was picked up as a free agent this offseason.
San Francisco also added free agents Brock Coyle and Dekoda Watson this offseason to contribute on special teams. They’re probably safe, for now.
Linebacker Ahmad Brooks is an aging commodity and, every offseason, it seems as if we’re talking about him being cut. This season could see it happening, especially if the 49ers have anything better an option.
Two of the tougher linebacker futures to decipher are with Ray-Ray Armstrong and Eli Harold.
Armstrong was arguably San Francisco’s best linebacker before suffering a season-ending pectoral injury early in 2016. The ability to double as a safety makes him a bit more useful. And third-year pro Eli Harold flashed a small amount of promise late in the year too. But it might be too little, too late.
San Francisco keeps, potentially, five or six linebackers here depending on special teams.