49ers roster bubble watch with 2023 NFL Draft in the books
By Peter Panacy
49ers roster bubble watch: Linebacker
Lock: Oren Burks, Dre Greenlaw, Fred Warner
Strong bubble: Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Dee Winters*
Weak bubble: Jalen Graham*, Curtis Robinson
Long shot: Mariano Sori-Marin*
Despite losing Azeez Al-Shaair in NFL free agency, the Niners still boast one of the best linebacker corps in the league heading into 2023, thanks largely to Dre Greenlaw and All-Pro Fred Warner.
Oren Burks' value on special teams (plus his $1.092 million in dead money, if cut) keeps him safely on the 53-man roster, too, leaving one or perhaps two more linebacker spots up for grabs.
Rookie Dee Winters stands a strong chance after his impressive efforts at TCU and despite being drafted in Round 5, yes, but Winters wasn't a positive standout during rookie minicamp. Instead, seventh-round rookie Jalen Graham was.
That might not be enough to put Graham onto the strong bubble, but it's worth monitoring now.
San Francisco will likely have to decide between Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and Marcelino McCrary-Ball if it keeps a fifth linebacker.