5 players the 49ers should target in Round 3 of the 2019 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
It’s hard to project where Clemson linebacker Tre Lamar will end up being drafted. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein guesses he’ll be either a sixth- or seventh-round draftee, while Tankathon lists him as the No. 79 overall prospect on their big board, safely within Round 3.
Perhaps one of the reasons why is Lamar is a fairly divisive prospect. You either love him or don’t like him at all.
On the plusses, he’s a willing tackler who excels in run defense. That’s a bonus, especially considering the 49ers’ run-heavy opponents within the NFC West. And at 6-foot-3 and 253 pounds, Lamar is big enough to offer up a bit in the pass rush, too, if the Niners deem him fit to do so off the strong side of the formation.
Yet Lamar isn’t good in pass coverage, and it’s likely he’ll be relegated to zone-only coverage duties at the NFL level. He’s not the rangiest linebacker, either, meaning he won’t be one of those defenders constantly around the ball.
But it isn’t as if San Francisco is set at the position. Currently, linebackers Fred Warner and Kwon Alexander have the MIKE and WILL spots locked down. The strong-side (SAM) linebacker spot remains open, however.
Ideally, SAM linebackers have a bit more size to their bodies, allowing them to take on tight ends in run-blocking formations.
Lamar has that, opening the door to a possible 49ers selection in Round 3.