49ers depth chart 2022: Predicting defensive starting lineup

49ers Linebackers

Middle Linebacker: Fred Warner

Weak-side Linebacker: Dre Greenlaw

Strong-side Linebacker: Azeez Al-Shaair

Pro Football Focus announced the best linebacking groups in the NFL entering 2022, and it shouldn’t be as big a surprise that the 49ers’ own was ranked No. 1.

It helps to have an All-Pro like Fred Warner in the fray. The strength of depth was fully revealed last season when backup Azeez Al-Shaair admirably filled in for Dre Greenlaw when the latter suffered a groin tear in Week 1 that knocked him out for all but three games during the regular season, even to the point where some argued Al-Shaair was an upgrade over Greenlaw anyway.

There are some points of concern as to who will wind up being a primary backup in what could be a fourth and final linebacker spot on the depth chart, but the starters are pretty much set.

Warner, the defensive captain, will occupy his usual middle (MIKE) spot, while Greenlaw will serve as the off-ball weak-side (WILL) role. Al-Shaair, subbing out in nickel formations, should be on the strong-side (SAM) spot, however, the Niners have gone with the trend of making all three linebacker spots much more interchangeable in recent years.