49ers’ 2019 ‘Who Is?’ series: Linebacker Elijah Lee

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Elijah Lee started out a special teams contributor in 2018, working his way into a starting role late in the season. What about 2019, though? Niner Noise’s “Who Is?” series takes a deeper look.

When the San Francisco 49ers formulated their roster early in 2018, then second-year pro linebacker Elijah Lee certainly wasn’t pegged to be a starter. After all, the Niners just drafted inside backer Fred Warner earlier that spring and were looking to get back their 2017 first-round NFL Draft pick, Reuben Foster, into the fray after a tumultuous offseason.

By the end of 2018, however, Lee was in a starting role. Foster was gone, and Lee saw himself leapfrog veteran linebacker Malcolm Smith on the depth chart, relegating the latter to the backup role Lee held earlier in the year.

Not bad for a former seventh-round pick San Francisco scraped off the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad mere months after he was drafted.

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/10/2019.

Heading into 2019, the context and scenario is a bit different for Lee. The 49ers brought aboard former Arkansas linebacker Dre Greenlaw in this year’s NFL Draft, adding to the competition behind Warner and the Niners’ prized free-agent pickup, Kwon Alexander.

Additionally, San Francisco is switching to a wide-9 alignment, which means the strong-side linebacker is going to be playing more off-ball formations, thus making all three linebackers more interchangeable.

That’s another factor potentially working for, or against, Lee.

Why Elijah Lee Improves in 2019

Lee adequately held his own against the run last year, posting a respectable 68.1 run-stopping grade in 2018, according to Pro Football Focus.

This would primarily peg him as an option to see reps at either the WILL or MIKE linebacking spots, which tend to focus more on stopping the run. If this is where Lee’s primary duties reside, he should have another solid effort in a reserve role.

Especially considering how run heavy the NFC West is pegged to be in 2019.

Why Elijah Lee Regresses

While Lee managed some solid efforts against the run, his pass-coverage skills weren’t quite as sharp, graded out by PFF at 55.1. This would hurt his stock value as a SAM linebacker, to an extent. More importantly, though, today’s pass-happy league stresses the need for coverage linebackers.

Opposing offenses could look to exploit Lee in coverage when he’s on the field.

Chances of Making the 49ers’ 53-Man Roster in 2019.

Signed to a one-year deal worth $645,000, Lee’s roster spot is anything but guaranteed. And it’s more precarious after the additions of Alexander and Greenlaw, who push Lee down the depth chart.

Smith spent time during organized team activities working with the first-team unit at SAM linebacker, which at least frees up depth at the other two positions. And with Warner and Alexander both rehabbing knee injuries, at least Lee should see ample time with first- and second-squad members between now and training camp.

Ideally, though, the Niners would like to keep Lee in this reserve role, also doubling up on special teams. Last season showed how Lee can at least be a serviceable starting option in a pinch. And even with Greenlaw joining the fray, San Francisco could stand to have a player like Lee in its ranks.

For now, Lee is still on the bubble. But it’s safe to say he’s on the stronger side, which isn’t the worst of scenarios.