49ers roster: Top position battles to watch after NFL Draft

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San Francisco 49ers linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (45) , linebacker Elijah Sullivan (59) , linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (51) and running back Eli Mitchell (49) Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /

49ers position battle to watch: Linebacker

Players in the fray: Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Oren Burks, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Dee Winters, Jalen Graham

Not unlike the situation at tight end, it’ll be awfully provocative to see how the linebacker depth chart behind Dre Greenlaw and All-Pro Fred Warner pans out.

Particularly after the Niners added two rookie linebackers in Dee Winters and Jalen Graham.

Graham might end up being a practice-squad stash in year one, but Winters is clearly a player to watch. His playmaking notoriety at TCU could eventually mean he’s a long-term replacement for Greenlaw, who has two years left with San Francisco on his current deal.

Plus, after the 49ers lost Azeez Al-Shaair to free agency, they’ll need a No. 3 linebacker to fill out the depth chart.

This potentially impacts reserve backers like Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Oren Burks and others who were hoping to secure Al-Shaair’s former spot.