SF 49ers: Position report-card grades halfway through 2020

Linebacker

Linebacker Fred Warner is the sole reason why this particular position hasn’t been a massive liability for San Francisco over the first nine weeks of the season.

Looking as if he’ll again be the team leader in tackles — 74 so far through nine games — Warner’s accolades are beginning to include regular interceptions (two), passes broken up (three) and quarterback hits (three) to go along with a highly commendable 84.2 overall Pro Football Focus grade.

This should put him easily into Pro Bowl consideration, if not into the discussion for first-team All-Pro status.

The problem, however, is Warner’s supporting cast of linebackers hasn’t been overly impressive this season. Fellow linebacker Dre Greenlaw grades out at 57.0, per PFF, and he hasn’t quite been the pass-coverage asset he was last season. Greenlaw’s run defense has also taken a slight step back this year, too, yet it’s pretty easy to understand why the SF 49ers elected to go with him as a younger, cheaper alternative to the veteran, Kwon Alexander, whom they traded to the New Orleans Saints just ahead of the Nov. 3 deadline.

If there’s a bonus, though, the Niners are allowing an average of 4.0 yards per rush against this season, which ranks seventh best. That’s some solace in contrast to last year’s 4.5-yards average, which helps boost this group to a certain extent.