Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Undrafted free agents with best chance to make 2019 roster

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 29: A view of San Francisco 49ers helmets on the bench during their NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on November 29, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 29: A view of San Francisco 49ers helmets on the bench during their NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on November 29, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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BOCA RATON, FL – SEPTEMBER 11: Azeez Al-Shaair #28 of the Florida Atlantic Owls looks on during a game against the Miami Hurricanes at FAU Stadium on September 11, 2015 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
BOCA RATON, FL – SEPTEMBER 11: Azeez Al-Shaair #28 of the Florida Atlantic Owls looks on during a game against the Miami Hurricanes at FAU Stadium on September 11, 2015 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

The 49ers do have some depth concerns at linebacker despite bringing aboard free-agent pickup Kwon Alexander during the offseason and grabbing Arkansas’ Dre Greenlaw in Round 5 of the NFL Draft.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Alexander is coming off a torn ACL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, which could potentially put his availability for Week 1 in some doubt. If that’s the case, Greenlaw might be pushed up the depth chart, and it would probably mean depth linebackers Malcolm Smith and/or Elijah Lee wind up being backup options to start the season.

Yet FAU’s Azeez Al-Shaair could find himself in the running for a depth spot on the 53-man roster, at least to start the season, if he can prove some value on special teams — always a necessity for third-string players.

Al-Shaair was a tackling ace in 2016 and 2017, picking up a combined 258 total tackles during that two-year stretch. Being around the ball a lot is crucial for linebackers, and Al-Shaair demonstrated that already.

A knee injury in 2018 limited his production, though, and that likely influenced him falling to UDFA status. And while he’s not exactly ideal in coverage, there’s often room for run-stopping linebackers as depth options.

Al-Shaair could make a strong case for himself if he demonstrates such in training camp.