The 49ers used their lone sixth-round pick on TCU linebacker Dee Winters. He could offer immediate and long-term solutions for a couple of problems San Francisco could soon face at linebacker.
Winters should compete right away for the starting Sam linebacker job, which was vacated when Azeez Al-Shaair who left for Tennessee in free agency. He’ll have to battle with veterans Oren Burks and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, but general manager John Lynch invoked Dre Greenlaw’s name when discussing what they saw in Winters.
Greenlaw began his career as a fifth-round pick who began at SLB. He eventually moved over to Will LB to stay on the field for all three downs.
Winters could certainly compete for the SLB job as a rookie, but it’s not out of the question that he could move to WLB eventually. Greenlaw has two years left on his contract, at which point he may get priced out of what the 49ers can afford.
The WLB spot alongside Fred Warner has been a huge key for the 49ers’ defense and the defense has improved as Greenlaw has improved. Finding his potential replacement should be a priority for San Francisco, and Winters has the athleticism and coverage skills to develop into that player down the line.
