Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Early look at 2019 position battles

By Peter Panacy

TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 25: Nick Mullens #4 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 25: Nick Mullens #4 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 28: Linebacker Malcolm Smith #51 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles tight end Jermaine Gresham #84 of the Arizona Cardinals during the fourth quarter at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 28: Linebacker Malcolm Smith #51 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles tight end Jermaine Gresham #84 of the Arizona Cardinals during the fourth quarter at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Linebacker

Reuben Foster’s release frees up the logjam that was this position heading into 2018 and, presumably, in 2019 as well. And the 49ers appear to have a bona fide stud at MIKE linebacker with the rookie, Fred Warner.

After Warner, the picture gets a bit cloudier.

The Niners brought aboard veteran linebacker Malcolm Smith in 2017 on a lucrative five-year, $26.5 million contract. He missed last season with a pectoral injury, and further injuries and inconsistencies have plagued his 2018 efforts. Cutting him this offseason would cost over $4 million in dead money, so it’s hard to envision San Francisco pursuing that route. The team would likely retain him for depth, at the very least.

Plus, there’s another commodity worth remembering here, Brock Coyle, who ended up on injured reserve with a concussion earlier this year.

The 49ers like what they have in Coyle, comfortable enough to start him 10 games in 2017 and to re-sign him to a three-year deal heading into 2018.

Therefore it’s feasible, if not necessarily ideal, the Niners put Coyle at a WILL spot (what Foster used to occupy), Warner at MIKE and Smith at SAM. The problem, though, is SAM linebackers traditionally cover opponents’ tight ends, and coverage isn’t exactly Smith’s strength.