San Francisco 49ers: Early 53-man roster predictions for 2018
By Peter Panacy
Defensive Line (10)
1-Technique: Earl Mitchell, D.J. Jones,
3-Technique: DeForest Buckner, Sheldon Day, Jullian Taylor
5-Technique (Big End): Solomon Thomas, Ronald Blair
LEO: Arik Armstead, Cassius Marsh, Jeremiah Attaochu
Defensive lines today are more about practical rotational depth than bona fide starting positions. Just ask the defending Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, how important their D-line rotations were last season.
About the only non-rotating pieces are defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, whose 90.4 overall Pro Football Focus grade ranked second among all 49ers defenders last year, and nose tackle Earl Mitchell.
San Francisco has some pure edge defenders in Cassius Marsh and Jeremiah Attaochu, who may not be elite, but are about as close a natural fit for the LEO spot as there is on the roster right now. Second-year pro Pita Taumoepenu will have to beat out one of these two to earn a spot during the regular season, but that seems like a bit of a stretch.
But in terms of sheer pass-rush potential, it makes sense for San Francisco to give 2015 first rounder Arik Armstead a look. The Niners picked up his fifth-year option recently, and they’re hoping he can transform from an interior rusher into more of an outside threat after missing 11 games with a hand injury last season.
Armstead may be rotated inside on run downs, though, as 2017 No. 3 overall pick Solomon Thomas assumes the EDGE.
It’s a rotation, so don’t get married to set positions. The key, however, is maximizing each player’s effectiveness.