Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Creating the ideal starting defense in 2019

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 16: Richard Sherman #25 of the San Francisco 49ers kneels after an injury to Ahkello Witherspoon #23 during their NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 16: Richard Sherman #25 of the San Francisco 49ers kneels after an injury to Ahkello Witherspoon #23 during their NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 01: Josh Allen #41 of the Kentucky Wildcats get ready prior to the VRBO Citrus Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Camping World Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 01: Josh Allen #41 of the Kentucky Wildcats get ready prior to the VRBO Citrus Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Camping World Stadium on January 1, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Linebacker

MIKE: Fred Warner

WILL: Anthony Barr

SAM: Josh Allen (rookie)

OK, 49ers NFL Draft pundits. You get your pick here, and it’s Kentucky pass-rusher Josh Allen.

Allen isn’t a prototypical LEO edge rusher, and he typically lines up on the strong side of the defensive formation, as the Sacramento Bee’s Chris Biderman pointed out:

The good thing, though, is Allen can line up all over the front seven. So it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Niners rush him from the weak side in various formations. And remember, Robert Saleh’s 4-3 Under places the SAM linebacker up towards the line of scrimmage.

Allen could easily be San Francisco’s pick at No. 2 overall in April’s draft.

But the 49ers aren’t done there. They already have a solid middle linebacker in Fred Warner, who impressed over the second half of 2018. That’s a cornerstone piece. But with some money to spend in NFL free agency, it wouldn’t be a shock to try targeting Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr.

Barr won’t come cheap. But he’s 27 years old, and Pro Football Focus (Cleveland.com) graded him out with a 71.4 mark, which is much better than anything the Niners had last season.

Oh, and Barr played the playmaking WILL spot in Minnesota’s stout defense, too.