Niner Noise
FanSided

49ers’ 2019 53-man roster predictions before training camp

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 09: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring on a one-yard catch against the Denver Broncos during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 09: Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring on a one-yard catch against the Denver Broncos during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 28: Linebacker Fred Warner #48 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after an intentional grounding penalty resulted in a safety during the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 28: Linebacker Fred Warner #48 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after an intentional grounding penalty resulted in a safety during the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Linebacker (7)

MIKE: Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw

WILL: Kwon Alexander, David Mayo

SAM: Malcolm Smith, Elijah Lee, Mark Nzeocha

Linebacker is one of those positions where at least one starting role, the strong-side (SAM) spot, is essentially up for grabs heading into training camp.

Veteran linebacker Malcolm Smith gets the nod here. And while the 49ers reworked his lucrative 2017 free-agent deal down to a one-year contract in 2019, he did manage to get time at this position with the first-team unit during OTAs. That says something.

Linebackers Fred Warner and Kwon Alexander are essentially guaranteed starting spots. Warner earned the nod last year, leading the 49ers with 124 tackles, while Alexander’s free-agent deal pegs him a starter, too. Alexander is coming off a torn ACL in 2018, though, so keeping a quality backup or two is vital.

This explains the fifth-round draft selection of Dre Greenlaw, who’ll back up both the weak-side (WILL) and MIKE linebacking spots.

Meanwhile, David Mayo and Mark Nzeocha make the cut for their special teams abilities, while Elijah Lee — the player who pushed Smith out of a starting job late last season — hangs around because of his special teams and reserve capabilities as well.