49ers roster: Top position battles to watch after NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
![San Francisco 49ers tight end Ross Dwelley (82) Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports San Francisco 49ers tight end Ross Dwelley (82) Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/d432084a76371bcedc65a0836a489b5db93aaf53b1489b5f08b33a04528c31d5.jpg)
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.