San Francisco 49ers: Stock report ahead of 2019 final cuts

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 16: Jeff Wilson #41 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a 16-yard run against the Seattle Seahawks in overtime of their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

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SANTA CLARA, CA – AUGUST 10: Michael Gallup #13 of the Dallas Cowboys gets tackled from behind by Dre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of a preseason NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on August 10, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Stock up: LB Dre Greenlaw

With the release of linebacker Malcolm Smith earlier this week, rookie LB Dre Greenlaw had the most to gain out of anybody on the field; If Greenlaw played well, a starting role on the 49ers’ defense beckoned.

While he wasn’t perfect, Greenlaw performed well enough so that he should be on the field for the team next week:

Dre Greenlaw gets a sack, then misses a tackle and blows a coverage. He’s in the mix to start but has some things to clean up.
— Chris Biderman (@ChrisBiderman) August 30, 2019

Greenlaw isn’t a perfect player, but you don’t enter the league as a fifth-round pick without flaws in your game — and his upside is through the roof.

Greenlaw is undersized, misses tackles and blows coverages at times. But he also is tenacious, highly skilled and has an undeniable X-factor about him.