Niner Noise
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Predicting the 49ers’ biggest moves in NFL free agency

By Peter Panacy

SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 14: Free safety Earl Thomas #29 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates a defensive stand in the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field on December 14, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 17-7. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 14: Free safety Earl Thomas #29 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates a defensive stand in the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field on December 14, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 17-7. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 11: Kwon Alexander #58 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers heads off the field after the game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on September 11, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 11: Kwon Alexander #58 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers heads off the field after the game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on September 11, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Linebacker Kwon Alexander

One of the positions not totally discussed as much as the 49ers’ other needs is linebacker.

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Currently, the team has only one guaranteed starter out of this trio, MIKE linebacker Fred Warner. And while the Niners recently renegotiated veteran linebacker Malcolm Smith‘s contract, finding some additional help for this group should be a top priority for 2019.

Baltimore Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley is going to be a top name on the NFL free agency market. Yet he’ll be a highly sought-after player, which will up his price tag considerably.

If San Francisco wants to save some cash and not overspend, a wiser move might be to go after 24-year-old linebacker Kwon Alexander, who missed all but six games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018.

That injury concern remains, of course. But one shouldn’t overlook his whopping 145-tackle campaign from 2016, along with his Pro Bowl efforts the year afterwards.

Alexander’s 2018 injury should keep the price tag relatively low, while adding a former Pro Bowler to the roster. Additionally, it takes pressure off the 49ers to use one of their six NFL Draft picks on what’s looking like a thin linebacking crop after the first two rounds.