Niner Noise
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2018 NFL Draft: 5 prospects the 49ers can target with their first pick

By Peter Panacy

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 03: Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Alabama Crimson Tide returns an interception for a touchdown against the Florida Gators in the first quarter during the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on December 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 03: Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Alabama Crimson Tide returns an interception for a touchdown against the Florida Gators in the first quarter during the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on December 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 02: Roquan Smith #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts to winning the game MVP trophy after beating the Auburn Tigers in the SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 02: Roquan Smith #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts to winning the game MVP trophy after beating the Auburn Tigers in the SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Linebacker Roquan Smith, Georgia

6-foot-1, 225 pounds, Junior

It’s possible, perhaps likely, the 49ers use yet another first-round pick in the NFL Draft on defense.

And again to address needs within the front seven.

Linebacker isn’t exactly a pressing need for San Francisco, per se, but it’s almost impossible to pass up on Georgia inside linebacker Roquan Smith, who recently announced he’d forego his senior year and enter the draft.

A top-10 talent, for sure, Smith’s sideline-to-sideline capabilities are on par with those of current Niners linebacker Reuben Foster. And with Foster’s injury history and off-field concerns, adding Smith would give San Francisco a nice Plan B option should Foster wind up being more of a liability than a benefit. It’s too early to speculate such, but it’s not out of mind.

Pairing Smith and Foster together, though, is even more enticing a possibility. And if we consider Fourth and Nine’s Dylan DeSimone’s sentiments, San Francisco’s defense only gets stronger as a result:

Smith is a tackling machine, evidenced by his 137 takedowns last season. His nose for the ball makes him a valuable commodity — the kind any NFL defense hopes to have at this level.

The 49ers better hope, however, they beat out the Raiders for that ninth pick, as Oakland would surely swipe Smith up if he’s available.