49ers analysis: Where do things stand at linebacker? Do they need to make a move?
This is the third of a nine-part series breaking down each position on the 49ers roster before the start of free agency begins March 18. Here, we’ll take a look at linebacker.
The biggest team building mistake John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan made during their first two seasons was trading up in their first draft with San Francisco to take troubled linebacker Reuben Foster in the opening round.
Foster, the 31st overall selection in 2017, played in just 16 games over two seasons before being released due to a string of off-the-field incidents, including domestic violence allegations, weapons charges and marijuana possession. The final straw came when he was arrested at the team hotel the night before a road game in Tampa Bay midway through 2018.
The team ripped the band-aid off and released Foster, despite spending time and resources to make sure he was on the right path away from the field. Foster was quickly signed by Washington and tore his ACL during spring practices, causing him to miss all of 2019.
The long saga forced the 49ers to make up for their mistake last spring by giving a controversial market setting contract to Tampa Bay Buccaneers free agent Kwon Alexander. Alexander signed for four years and $54 million despite hitting the market midway through his recovery from a torn ACL the previous the October.
Lynch and Shanahan figured Alexander would pair with promising rookie Fred Warner to be the center of the defense for the long run. And with veteran Malcolm Smith dealing with a litany of injuries since being signed in 2017, the duo decided to spend a fifth-round draft choice on unheralded prospect Dre Greenlaw, who was a four-year starter at Arkansas and was one of the draft’s quickest linebackers, though an injury prevented him from running at the NFL combine, which might have kept him under the radar.
Smith was released before the season, joining Foster on the short list of personnel mistakes made by Lynch and Shanahan.
What happened in 2019
Alexander’s torn ACL wasn’t an issue, even though the injury caused many observers to wonder if the 49ers were making another miscalculation surrounding a player coming off knee surgery (paging Baalke, Trent).
Alexander was good to go early in training camp and brought a new energy to the defense. He started the first eight games working as a weak side linebacker where he could showcase his speed and coverage skills, even if there were times he over ran plays and missed tackles. His attitude, leadership and overall fire jumped off the field as San Francisco’s defense had a different kind of swagger while dominating most opponents throughout the first half of the season.
Nick Bosa called Alexander the MVP of the defense, even if there were a handful of players along the defensive front that were more productive overall.
Alexander tore his pectoral in the Halloween victory over the Arizona Cardinals. He went on injured reserve leaving many to believe his year would be done, leaving Warner and Greenlaw to man the heart of San Francisco’s defense despite neither having more than two years experience.
Warner capitalized on the promise he showed as a rookie, becoming one of the league’s premier young inside linebackers with a productive season. His athleticism and instincts allowed him to play well in coverage (he recorded nine pass breakups, three sacks, three forced fumbles and seven tackles for loss). His improved size and strength made him better against the run. He had a massive pick-six against the Rams in a late-game victory in December and also intercepted Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl.
Greenlaw made San Francisco’s biggest defensive play of the year, stopping Seahawks tight end Jacob Hollister inches shy of the goal line on a fourth down play during the final moments of Week 17, which gave the 49ers the top seed in the NFC. The first-round bye and home field advantage were paramount in their run to the Super Bowl.
Alexander, meanwhile, returned from pectoral surgery for the playoffs, giving the defense a much-needed lift. With Alexander back, San Francisco throttled the Vikings in the Divisional Round before thumping the Packers 37-20 in the NFC title game, which included a 34-7 lead in the third quarter.
It was revealed after the season that Alexander also played through a biceps injury which required surgery last month. It’s no surprise Alexander was named the winner of the team’s Hazeltine Iron Man Award for playing through injuries and showcasing toughness.
Changes looming
There don’t appear to be any significant changes on the horizon.
Warner will be due for a lucrative contract extension after the coming season. Alexander already restructured his contract in November to shrink his cap hit nearly to $4.6 million for 2020. His base salary shrunk from $11.25 million to $976,325 because he had base salary converted to a bonus, according to Overthecap.com.
Greenlaw played well as a rookie and should be in line to become the full-time “Sam” linebacker in 2020 and won’t be eligible for a second contract until after the 2021 campaign. Otherwise, it appears the group will be rounded out by 2019 undrafted free agent Azeez Al-Shaair, who struggled when thrown into the mix late in the year after showing signs of promise during training camp and the preseason.
Special teams standout Mark Nzeocha, who blocked a punt and had an interception in the season opener, is under contract through 2021. Elijah Lee took Alexander’s roster spot when he was on IR and has been a core special teamer for most of the last three seasons. He’s a restricted free agent.
How pressing is the need?
It’s not pressing. The 49ers already have five players at the position, including three starters all under the age of 26 signed for the long run.
Look for the team to consider bringing in undrafted free agents to compete for a roster spot if Lee doesn’t return. The team has former Stanford prospect Joey Alfieri on the offseason. Alfieri spent last offseason with the Eagles and Giants. Safety and linebacker hybrid, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles sustained a season-ending injury during a practice in Florida in December as a member of the practice squad.
