49ers 53-man roster prediction with mandatory minicamp in the books
By Peter Panacy
Linebacker (5)
De'Vondre Campbell, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Jalen Graham, Fred Warner, Dee Winters
Like Talanoa Hufanga, linebacker Dre Greenlaw is at serious risk of missing the start of the regular season because of the torn Achilles suffered in the Super Bowl last February.
Chances are he, too, begins 2024 on an injury list, leaving a spot open for a depth linebacker like Dee Winters or Jalen Graham to claim a spot at the back end of the crop.
Meanwhile, the 49ers brought in another All-Pro in De'Vondre Campbell to pair alongside their defensive star, Fred Warner, right away in Greenlaw's absence, while the special teams value of Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles can't be understated.
This means the Niners' seventh-round pick from last April, Tatum Bethune, fails to make the cut. But he might end up being a developmental candidate on the practice squad in year one.