Reuben Foster
And if Reuben Foster stays on the field, he’ll be in strong contention for the 2019 Pro Bowl, and a lock for the 2021 Pro Bowl.
Foster’s talent has never been in question, but his availability has been. Being suspended for two games this year and out for six last year with injuries can seriously hinder any player’s growth. Despite all these injuries, Foster showed why he might be the long awaited replacement for Patrick Willis.
He had 59 tackles over 10 games, which would average out to 94 tackles per year. This doesn’t take into account the various snaps that Foster missed during an individual game due to stingers and bruises. That’s elite-level production if he can hold up during a year.
Just look at where he ranked with his limited production:
Reuben Foster's 11.2% run stop percentage was tied for second highest among ILBs with 200+ run snaps last season. #49ers pic.twitter.com/dAzggpaHh0
— PFF SF 49ers (@PFF_49ers) July 11, 2018
This stat doesn’t tell just how incredible Foster was last year. Pro Football Focus had this to say about Foster’s talent last year:
"Had the 49ers been able to keep Foster healthy and on the field all season, he would almost certainly have made the All-Pro team, and quite possibly on the first team. As it is, Foster ended the year with an overall PFF grade of 90.7 from just 553 total snaps, an incredible number for a rookie linebacker, and looks every bit of a star in the making."
That’s high praise indeed for a rookie. Ranking fourth at your respective position doesn’t hurt either. The future on the field is very bright for Foster, and with his progression, by 2021, Foster will be a lock for the Pro Bowl.