Niner Noise
FanSided

Grading 49ers’ 2019 offseason through opening of NFL free agency

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/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) /

C-. . . . SIGNING LINEBACKER KWON ALEXANDER

While other positions garnered more interest and attention this offseason, the 49ers also had a clear-cut need at linebacker.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Before signing Kwon Alexander to his then-record-breaking four-year, $54 million deal, the only shoo-in starter among this group was second-year pro Fred Warner. Had things gone well with former Niners linebacker Reuben Foster, general manager John Lynch wouldn’t have needed to make this signing.

Grabbing Alexander has its risks. After all, he’s coming off a torn ACL in 2018, which could negatively impact his sheer athletic ability on the field. Those abilities helped him earn the reputation of being a serious playmaker — one capable of recording three interceptions during his Pro Bowl 2017 campaign. But there are also concerns about Alexander’s tackling abilities and run defense.

If there’s good news, however, the details of Alexander’s contract suggest it’s much more team friendly than initially anticipated, as the Sacramento Bee’s Chris Biderman pointed out. And Alexander is certainly an upgrade over last year’s weak-side linebacker, Elijah Lee, giving San Francisco’s defense more playmaking abilities.

Still, it’s not hard to think about how the Niners could have used that money to target another impact player, such as Earl Thomas, which makes this move slightly below average.