Niner Noise
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2018 NFL Scouting Combine: 49ers look for linebackers

By Joseph Naki

BLACKSBURG, VA - OCTOBER 28: Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds #49 and safety Reggie Floyd #21 of the Virginia Tech Hokies tackle running back Shaun Wilson #29 of the Duke Blue Devils in the first half at Lane Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)
BLACKSBURG, VA - OCTOBER 28: Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds #49 and safety Reggie Floyd #21 of the Virginia Tech Hokies tackle running back Shaun Wilson #29 of the Duke Blue Devils in the first half at Lane Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images) /
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Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech

About a month ago I wrote a piece on linebackers the 49ers should target. In that piece, Tremaine Edmunds of Virginia Tech was my No. 1 guy. That hasn’t changed, in fact, the combine only solidified my instincts as Edmunds blew it up.

The 49ers have the No. 9 pick in the draft order.

Should the Niners take (my man crush) guard Quenton Nelson of Notre Dame? Or do they take a much needed linebacker to fill for Reuben Foster? Maybe they trade down out of No. 9 losing out on Edmunds? I don’t see Edmunds getting past the Oakland Raiders at No. 10.

A lot of scenarios, for sure. But since the top 10 choices may see four to six quarterbacks taken, it would not surprise me to see both Nelson and Edmunds fall to the 49ers at No. 9.

Decisions, decisions!

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Mike Mayock of the NFL Network says this of Edmunds:

"I don’t use this word often, but he has a skill set that’s unique. The beauty of this kid is he’s 19 years old, he’s 6-5 (feet tall) and 250 (pounds) – at 19 years old. He doesn’t turn 20 until a couple days after the draft. I put the first tape in on this kid, and today, he’s an off-the-ball linebacker, meaning in a 3-4 (defense), he’s an inside linebacker. He’d be great there. He also has a scary skill set as an edge rusher, which he did a little bit of at Virginia Tech, and I know for sure, he’s working on that now."

Mayock mentions no 4-3 fit for Edmunds. But in Robert Saleh’s defensive scheme, Edmunds would do well in the MIKE and possibly play some LEO.

The 49ers are going to need a linebacker in this class. Where they land one is the question. Meaning do they trade down to the 20s range in the draft hoping Evans will be there? Or do they stay at No. 9 and take Edmunds or Roquan Smith?

Decisions, decisions.

The 2018 NFL Draft is on the horizon, so time will tell how John Lynch will go about getting his linebacker. In the meantime, we have the free agency market opening in less than a week, so all eyes and attention move to Mar. 12.