49ers 2019 training camp: How Dre Greenlaw is rising to the top

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw has gone from a fifth-round NFL Draft rookie all the way to a potential starter his rookie year. Niner Noise breaks down why.

You might not have been sold on the San Francisco 49ers selecting former Arkansas linebacker Dre Greenlaw in Round 5 of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Even if you were, you probably weren’t expected a lot out of him his rookie season, aside from some special teams contributions, perhaps.

Yet Greenlaw is quickly becoming a hot storyline during training camp, going from a fringe player on the stronger end of the roster bubble all the way to a likely starter in 2019.

That’s quite a climb for any day-three draft pickup.

Exactly how Greenlaw has ascended this quickly is complex. The 6-foot-0, 227-pound linebacker wasn’t the most polished prospect in the collegiate ranks, and his size was something which likely caused some concerns among scouts.

Whatever his limitations might have been, however, don’t appear to be carrying over to the pro level.

“He seems to have a nose for the ball,” 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk told the Sacramento Bee’s Chris Biderman about Greenlaw. “I’m pretty sure it was the very first plays of OTAs (in June), he blew up the running back in the backfield, and I’m pretty sure the very first play of (training camp), he blew up the back in the backfield.”

Having the proverbial “nose for the ball” is ideal for linebackers, who rely on instincts and football IQ to read and diagnose plays before they develop.

So far, Greenlaw is passing that test and turning heads.

Biderman continued:

"He already knows the tendencies of San Francisco’s offense, which allows him to fill running lanes quickly and pick up coverage assignments without confusion. He’s earning a reputation for his intelligence and preparation, similar to [Fred] Warner, a rookie a year ago who became the starting middle linebacker from the start of his career last September."

These abilities are going to be important this season. With the 49ers switching to a wide-9 defensive alignment, there’s going to be more pressure on linebackers to handle inside rushing attempts from opposing offenses.

If Greenlaw is already demonstrating a solid knack for doing this, it certainly bodes well for his immediate future.

And that future could include a starting job, too. Lately in training camp, Greenlaw has been working with the first-team unit at the strong-side (SAM) linebacker spot. During OTAs, this role was reserved for veteran linebacker Malcolm Smith.

Now, it appears as if the job is Greenlaw’s to lose.

“I feel like I really have to prove to everybody — the organization and even to myself, that I belong here,” Greenlaw wrote in a feature piece on 49ers.com. “My first thoughts during my first practice were, ‘I’m out here now. Why look back and why look to the side. I’m going forward. The only thing I can do is put my head down and keep working and keep understanding the play book. And the rest will come.’”

It’s looking like “the rest” is coming sooner than later.

The Niners have had some luck with day-three draft pickups as of late. Tight end George Kittle is, perhaps, the best example after he was selected in Round 5 back in 2017. Wide receiver Trent Taylor is another, as is undrafted running back Matt Breida.

But San Francisco hasn’t landed a true impact player on the defensive side of the ball during these latter rounds.

If Greenlaw winds up being that kind of player, though, his selection might wind up being one of the better steals from the 49ers’ efforts in this year’s NFL Draft.