Niner Noise
FanSided

5 dark-horse prospects the 49ers could grab in Round 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft

By Peter Panacy

BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 09: Andraez Williams #29 of the LSU Tigers celebrates an interception with Ed Paris #21 during the first half of a game against the Chattanooga Mocs at Tiger Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 09: Andraez Williams #29 of the LSU Tigers celebrates an interception with Ed Paris #21 during the first half of a game against the Chattanooga Mocs at Tiger Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
BATON ROUGE, LA – OCTOBER 13: Jake Fromm #11 of the Georgia Bulldogs throws the ball as Devin White #40 of the LSU Tigers defends during the first half at Tiger Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA – OCTOBER 13: Jake Fromm #11 of the Georgia Bulldogs throws the ball as Devin White #40 of the LSU Tigers defends during the first half at Tiger Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

The 49ers already have a promising young linebacker in Fred Warner, although fans can recall the now-dead thought of him being paired with former Niners backer Reuben Foster, who was let go last November after his third arrest in 2018 and is now with the Washington Redskins.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

That said, the thought of having a dynamic linebacking pair, not unlike the days of NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis, should still be something of interest to San Francisco.

Unlike Jonah Williams, LSU linebacker Devin White is likely a top-five selection in this year’s NFL Draft. Barring a crazy trade-up run on prospective quarterbacks, of course. The Niners could feasibly trade down a few spots hoping to maximize value and land White in the process. Yet, as Niner Noise’s Jeremy Wohlfart pointed out, selecting White at No. 2 overall isn’t totally out of the realm of possibility either.

Linebacker isn’t off the list of San Francisco needs this offseason. Veteran backer Malcolm Smith has been a disappointment since signing as a free agent in 2017. And fellow linebacker Elijah Lee, despite some promising efforts in the second half, is probably best suited for a reserve role.

White, on the other hand, is the prototypical coverage and run-stuffing linebacker so crucial in today’s NFL.

Don’t be shocked if the Niners take a hard, hard look at him leading up to draft day.