San Francisco 49ers: Laying out the perfect 2018 NFL Draft

No. 3: Draft Strategy

How should San Francisco approach the draft? I am under the assumption that linebacker Reuben Foster will not be a member of the 49ers for much longer. And even if the team does decide to keep him on the roster, Foster is guaranteed to miss part of the upcoming season due to a looming suspension.

It also has to be duly noted that Foster, despite how great he was, still struggled mightily in the healthy department. There was the high ankle sprain that sidelined him for the beginning portion of the season. Then he had issues with his shoulder.

Foster was banged up quite often. This is just Foster’s first season at the professional level, too. To summarize it all — there is uncertainty at the linebacker position looking ahead.

Which is why San Francisco should target linebacker first in the draft.

Fortunately for the 49ers, there’s an elite prospect at the position. Say hello to Georgia’s Roquan Smith.

A truly top-tier athlete, Smith uses his speed and power to ravage opponents.

Smith played weakside linebacker at Georgia in their 3-4 scheme, but possesses the versatility to play middle linebacker as well. So even if the legal situation with Foster resulted with him remaining a member of the team, the 49ers could still employ both of them on the field at the same time.

The drafting of Smith would be an insurance policy against Foster and also serve as a fortification at linebacker. Currently, Malcolm Smith, Brock Coyle and Korey Toomer all are set to be in the mix at linebacker in 2018  — an uninspiring and unproven bunch.

Next, edge rusher needs to be addressed. Free agent Jeremiah Attaochu was brought in during the offseason and Cassius Marsh was re-signed; those two are the LEOs of the team. Some questions linger still at edge rusher.

Getting after the quarterback is one of the most important components to an effective defense. This is an area where the 49ers lacked to make an impact last season.

Ohio State’s Sam Hubbard and LSU’s Arden Key both are players who could land into their laps in the second round. San Francisco had Key in for a pre-draft visit. USC’s Rasheem Green, Alabama’s DeShawn Hand and Oklahoma’s Ogbonnia Okoronkwo are also potential candidates in the second and third rounds.

Those are the two positions that I believe should be targeted first. The 49ers need to focus their draft strategy on patching up the holes on their defense. With Garoppolo and Shanahan on the other side of the ball, a lot can be done with very little.

Cornerback is also a position that could use some depth to it. Building up the defense will play a huge role in San Francisco elevating their status in the league as a legitimate threat.