49ers top 5 players on roster under 25 years old
By Peter Panacy
The 49ers do have an older team heading into 2021, but there are a number of players under 25 years old who are already among the league’s best.
When fans think of old NFL teams heading into the 2021 season, they probably think of the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the seemingly ageless quarterback, Tom Brady.
According to Indianapolis Colts beat writer Andrew Walker, though, the Bucs are only the fifth-oldest team this offseason.
Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers are the second oldest roster this offseason behind only the Houston Texans.
Old usually means bad things for football teams, and youth movements are always popular. At the same time, however, Walker’s assessment doesn’t mean the Niners completely lack promising youth players across the roster.
In fact, there are some awfully good San Francisco players who aren’t yet 25 years old.
It’s too early to judge rookies entering 2021. But these five sub-25-year-old players deserve to be ranked.
No. 5: 49ers Linebacker Dre Greenlaw
The 49ers have had some luck with late-round NFL Draft picks in recent years, and their 2019 fifth-round addition, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, is one of the latest in line to seemingly rise out of the unknown ranks into prominence.
Greenlaw and fellow linebacking mate Fred Warner comprise one of the better linebacking tandems in the NFL, and both players have yet to crest that 25-year-old benchmark.
Granted, Greenlaw is and will remain in Warner’s shadow as long as the two are playing together. And while some may view Greenlaw’s 2020 campaign as a bit of a regression from his out-of-nowhere rookie year, it’s pretty safe to argue the former Arkansas Razorback is far more an asset to the Niners than a liability.
Especially considering Greenlaw’s solid pass-coverage skills, which are so big a necessity at his position in today’s pass-happy NFL.
At 24 years old and entering year three of his pro career, there’s a good chance Greenlaw’s stock value will only continue to rise as his development and understanding of the pro-level game continue.