Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 10 players to watch during 2019 training camp

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 7: San Francisco 49ers stretch during a practice session at Levi's Stadium on August 7, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 7: San Francisco 49ers stretch during a practice session at Levi's Stadium on August 7, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 15: Kwon Alexander #58 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on during the preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings on August 15, 2015 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Buccaneers 26-16. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 15: Kwon Alexander #58 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on during the preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings on August 15, 2015 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Buccaneers 26-16. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Linebacker Kwon Alexander

Boy, the 49ers sure wish the shot at former Niners linebacker Reuben Foster worked out. It didn’t, though, and San Francisco was put into a position where it had to go out on the free-agent market and sign former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Kwon Alexander, who is coming off a 2018 ACL tear.

Alexander’s four-year, $54 million contract didn’t exactly sit well with Bleacher Report, which ranked the deal the 49ers’ riskiest move of the offseason.

When looking at the numbers, though, Alexander’s contract is massively front loaded, giving the team relatively easy outs as early as 2020.

Still, the $10-plus million guaranteed in 2019 is a lot of cash to swallow, and the Niners are going to be looking for production right away.

Like Nick Bosa and Jerick McKinnon, Alexander has yet to partake in offseason practices, meaning training camp should be the first time we get to see him on the field. With the 49ers switching to a wide-9 alignment, there are going to be more opportunities for linebackers to make open-field tackles this season, putting even more pressure on Alexander to deliver early and often.

Whether or not his knee is up to the task will be a key focal point the rest of summer.