Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Grading the 2017 NFL Draft class after one full year

By Peter Panacy

Solomon Thomas of Stanford with Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell after being picked #3 overall by the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
Solomon Thomas of Stanford with Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell after being picked #3 overall by the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 26: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks evades Reuben Foster #56 of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 26: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks evades Reuben Foster #56 of the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Linebacker. Alabama. REUBEN FOSTER. B.

Moving up to grab former Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster was the second of John Lynch’s impressive Round 1 draft moves from 2017.

And it’s pretty clear the 49ers landed a special player.

Foster finished the year with 59 tackles — second most on the team — despite missing six games on the year. And his 90.7 Pro Football Focus grade, ranked fifth among all qualifiers, is categorized as elite.

Foster would easily receive an A-plus grade if he was fully healthy. But injury concerns, including a high-ankle sprain suffered in Week 1 that kept him out multiple weeks, knocks the grade down a bit.

Keep in mind, players aren’t worth much if they’re not on the field.

Injury concerns aside, Foster is one of the most promising players on San Francisco’s roster right now. And if he stays healthy, he’ll be one of the league’s best.