49ers training camp roster: Updated bubble watch after first week
By Peter Panacy
49ers Linebackers
Lock: Kwon Alexander, Dre Greenlaw, Fred Warner
Strong Bubble: Azeez Al-Shaair, Mark Nzeocha, Joe Walker
Weak Bubble: none
Long Shot: Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
There aren’t too many battles to be won at linebacker, given the 49ers have three starting-caliber options available for base formations: Fred Warner, Kwon Alexander and Dre Greenlaw.
Greenlaw might be the best No. 3 option in the league entering 2020, and he already proved his worth in San Francisco’s crucial Week 17 win over the Seattle Seahawks with his goal-line stop of Seahawks tight end Jacob Hollister.
That’ll give the Niners a solid three-man rotation for two spots on nickel packages, which is good, although the reserve/special teams options for this position aren’t quite set yet.
Mark Nzeocha seems like a lock, although it’s hard to justify keeping a player solely based on his special teams coverage and gunner skills. If he’s outplayed by one of the other depth members, namely Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles or Jonas Griffith, Nzeocha could be on the outside, looking in.
Still, it’s hard to see that happening.