Niner Noise
FanSided

5 linebackers the 49ers should target for the 2018 NFL Draft

By Joseph Naki

BLACKSBURG, VA - SEPTEMBER 24: Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds #49 of the Virginia Tech Hokies prepares to hit quarterback Philip Nelson #9 of the East Carolina Pirates in the first half at Lane Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)
BLACKSBURG, VA - SEPTEMBER 24: Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds #49 of the Virginia Tech Hokies prepares to hit quarterback Philip Nelson #9 of the East Carolina Pirates in the first half at Lane Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images) /
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Kemoko Turay, Rutgers

With 49ers talks leaning heavily in signing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in the very near future, the guard and center position become a serious focal point in planning for success on offense. Interior linemen are a required commodity, but can be obtained in free agency at a fair price.

An outside option for John Lynch may be to focus on the third round, where he has two selections slotted closely at the top, picks 70 and 74, overall. Here is where value of picking a play-making linebacker makes perfect sense.

Enter Rutgers’ Kemoko Turay.

At 6-foot-5 and all of 250 pounds, Turay is like a jungle cat able to pounce on its prey from all angles. A former high school long jump and triple jump champ, Turay shows the ability of tracking down ball carriers with ease, move with tremendous burst from his lower half of his body, and able to force opposing coaches to game plan for his position.

A tremendous football player, Turay is exactly the type of athlete the 49ers need to get better on defense.

More from Niner Noise

Coach Robert Saleh needs help at the second tier of his defense, specifically a LB capable of playing in space, able to cover running backs and tight ends and getting to the quarterback on a consistent basis. The five athletes listed above would fill those requirements very nicely.

Next: 49ers' trade-up, trade-down targets in the 2018 NFL Draft

In the next installment, we will take a look at the top five players able to bring an immediate impact to the 49ers defense.