When the San Francisco 49ers selected Dee Winters in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, most fans in the Bay Area saw him as a developmental linebacker buried on the depth chart behind two standouts in All-Pro Fred Warner and veteran Dre Greenlaw.
Two years later, and with Greenlaw now elsewhere (Denver Broncos), Winters still remains behind the curtain.
However, his development and unique skill set have put him in position to become a critical piece of the Niners' defensive core moving into his third season.
Dee Winters, the 49ers’ overlooked defensive spark
What makes Winters intriguing is how seamlessly his collegiate foundation has translated to the NFL. At TCU, he thrived in the Horned Frogs’ unconventional 3-3-5 stack defense, a scheme that asked him to play everywhere from a traditional box linebacker role to slot coverage responsibilities against wide receivers.
That system forced Winters to master versatility: read-and-react instincts in space, downhill explosiveness when asked to fill gaps, and fluid coverage ability when matched up against tight ends or running backs.
For a 49ers defense that prides itself on adaptability, Winters has proven to be a natural fit.
The speed jumps out first. Winters has short-area explosiveness that allows him to close gaps quickly and erase mistakes. He’s not just fast from a linear perspective -- his lateral burst and ability to redirect make him a weapon in both blitzing situations and in zone coverage drops.
Linebackers who can disguise pressure and then retreat into passing lanes are rare, and Winters has shown glimpses of exactly that. Playing next to Warner, who is arguably the league’s top all-around 'backer, Winters has been able to learn how to leverage that speed within San Francisco’s disciplined defensive framework.
Coverage remains one of the most underrated parts of his game. While Greenlaw’s physicality defined his role in the past, and Warner's electric athleticism and instincts consistently put him near the football, Winters offers a blend of range and matchup flexibility that could make him the team’s true chess piece in the second level.
In today’s NFL, where running backs and tight ends are featured heavily in passing attacks, having a linebacker who can comfortably turn and run is invaluable. Winters’ time in TCU’s 3-3-5, where linebackers were constantly asked to cover in space, has prepared him to thrive in exactly those situations. In Week 1 against Seattle, while Winters allowed all five of the targets his way to be completed, he gave up just 20 yards as the primary in coverage. In laymen's terms, he smothered his opponents in open grass.
Entering year three, Winters is now positioned to be more than just a young piece with potential beside Warner. He’s become a reliable option who can step in without the defense losing its identity.
For a sixth-round pick, Winters has already exceeded expectations. But within the walls of the 49ers’ locker room, his value is well known.
His explosiveness, coverage chops, and versatility give San Francisco yet another dimension to its already elite defense. And as he continues to grow alongside Warner, Winters may no longer be underrated for long -- he could soon be recognized as one of the NFL’s better young linebackers in his own right.