Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Top 5 too-early roster predictions for 2019 rookies

By Jeremy Wohlfart

PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 25: Kaden Smith #82 of the Stanford Cardinal catches a touchdown pass while covered by Shaun Crawford #20 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Stanford Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 25: Kaden Smith #82 of the Stanford Cardinal catches a touchdown pass while covered by Shaun Crawford #20 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Stanford Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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BATON ROUGE, LA – NOVEMBER 14: Dre Greenlaw #23 of the Arkansas Razorbacks pursues Brandon Harris #6 of the LSU Tigers during the second quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium on November 14, 2015 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA – NOVEMBER 14: Dre Greenlaw #23 of the Arkansas Razorbacks pursues Brandon Harris #6 of the LSU Tigers during the second quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium on November 14, 2015 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

No 3: Linebacker Dre Greenlaw becomes a shock starter

Dre Greenlaw is one of the most intriguing prospects, for no other reason than all the pieces around his drafting paint him as a possible starter right away.

While the 49ers brought back linebacker Malcolm Smith on a restructured contract, it’s safe to say Smith has been less than impressive in his tenure with San Francisco.

Kwon Alexander and Fred Warner have two starting linebacker spots locked down, but the strongside linebacker (or SAM linebacker) is wide open.

Smith and Mark Nzeocha are not cemented into that role, and general manager John Lynch has already said Greenlaw can play the position. That seems like a green light to make the assumption the Niners plan on letting him compete there.

We also know the 49ers are very high on Greenlaw to the extent they hid how much they loved him by cancelling their visit. Greenlaw will have every chance to earn the starting role, and I think he will.