Early 53-man roster predictions for 49ers after 2023 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
49ers post-NFL Draft 53-man roster predictions: Linebacker (5)
In: Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Oren Burks, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Dee Winters*
Out: Curtis Robinson, Marcelino McCrary-Ball, Jalen Graham*, Mariano Sori-Marin*
The 49ers still have one of the best linebacker corps in the NFL despite losing an underrated and high-quality backer in Azeez Al-Shaair during the offseason.
However, with the addition of former TCU backer Dee Winters, one might make the argument that the Niners actually improved this lot.
Winters fits San Francisco perfectly, epitomizing that blend of linebacker and safety, and he could challenge to be the No. 3 option behind Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner. That's not necessarily great news for reserve linebackers like Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and second-year pro Marcelino McCrary-Ball, and it's not great for the 49ers' seventh-round pickup, Purdue's Jalen Graham, either.
Expect at least one of the ousted linebackers to wind up on the Niners' practice squad, though.