Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

Originally posted by genus49:

Originally posted by Ninerfan84:

I wouldn't call a nickel rusher a major hole but I think finding a full time LEO is the biggest need.

If they're taking Landry in the first round they don't envision him as simply a 3rd down rusher....pretty straight forward there.

Not necessarily 1st round but at 9 for sure. At least we are making some progress.. If they see him as primarily a 3rd down rusher they won't take him high.

Originally posted by Ninerfan84:
Not necessarily 1st round but at 9 for sure. At least we are making some progress.. If they see him as primarily a 3rd down rusher they won't take him high.

We're not taking someone we envision simply as a 3rd down rusher in the first round period. Not right now at least.

Teams like the Pats/Eagles have the luxury to take part time players in the first. 49ers are not one of those teams right now and need an impact player in the near future.

Originally posted by Hysterikal:

Yeah people got so defensive as if Brooks wasn't "to small to play linebacker in the NFL" when he was coming out. Even Brooks said he was expecting to be moved to safety.

Roquan is basically the same size as Brooks and the latter played in a far more balanced, less pass happy era, he would have been even more dominant in the current NFL.

I dont see us putting LB as a high priority in the first this year. Just dont see him or Edmunds happening. Too many other holes to fill, and we can get a LB to fit our needs in the mid rounds.

Originally posted by IdahoNiner:

I dont see us putting LB as a high priority in the first this year. Just dont see him or Edmunds happening. Too many other holes to fill, and we can get a LB to fit our needs in the mid rounds.

Don't think the 49ers would have visits with two 1st round caliber LBs if they had no interest in the position early.


Considering that Froster could be a ticking time bomb and that the rest of the LBs are far from stellar, its a major need along with edge rusher, OL and CB.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by IdahoNiner:
I dont see us putting LB as a high priority in the first this year. Just dont see him or Edmunds happening. Too many other holes to fill, and we can get a LB to fit our needs in the mid rounds.

Don't think the 49ers would have visits with two 1st round caliber LBs if they had no interest in the position early.

Considering that Froster could be a ticking time bomb and that the rest of the LBs are far from stellar, its a major need along with edge rusher, OL and CB.

Did i miss their visits with Smith or Edmunds?

As far as i knew, the only true top ten prospects they have had visits with were the below combine meetings-

Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State (COM)
Bradley Chubb, EDGE, N.C. State (COM)
Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College (COM)

I dont put a whole lot of stock in pre draft visits.

Originally posted by IdahoNiner:

Did i miss their visits with Smith or Edmunds?

https://ninerswire.usatoday.com/2018/04/03/nfl-draft-update-49ers-to-host-georgia-linebacker-roquan-smith-on-visit/



They've also met with Rashaan Evans.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by IdahoNiner:
Did i miss their visits with Smith or Edmunds?

https://ninerswire.usatoday.com/2018/04/03/nfl-draft-update-49ers-to-host-georgia-linebacker-roquan-smith-on-visit/

They've also met with Rashaan Evans.

I didnt know about Smith. However, i think we can do better at #9 then to replace our first round pick last season, with another first round pick. Just my .02

Originally posted by IdahoNiner:

I didnt know about Smith. However, i think we can do better at #9 then to replace our first round pick last season, with another first round pick. Just my .02

Would be more insurance than a replacement and if Froster gets his stuff together then they could form a potentially devastating duo at LB.


Roquan also brings leadership, something this defense currently lacks.


Also.....

Regardless of Foster's status, Smith would be a logical choice for the 49ers. Veteran Malcolm Smith, who missed last season with a pectoral injury, is expected to start at one of the inside linebacker spots in 2018.

But the guaranteed money in his contract runs out next spring, according to Overthecap.com. That leaves open the possibility of becoming a salary cap casualty before the 2019 league year if he doesn't play well enough to stick around. The Super Bowl MVP from 2013 signed a five-year contract with San Francisco last spring after two underwhelming seasons with the Raiders.

Malcolm Smith will be 30 by the 2019 season and the 49ers could look for an eventual replacement

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by IdahoNiner:
I didnt know about Smith. However, i think we can do better at #9 then to replace our first round pick last season, with another first round pick. Just my .02

Would be more insurance than a replacement and if Froster gets his stuff together then they could form a potentially devastating duo at LB.

Roquan also brings leadership, something this defense currently lacks.

Also.....

Regardless of Foster's status, Smith would be a logical choice for the 49ers. Veteran Malcolm Smith, who missed last season with a pectoral injury, is expected to start at one of the inside linebacker spots in 2018.

But the guaranteed money in his contract runs out next spring, according to Overthecap.com. That leaves open the possibility of becoming a salary cap casualty before the 2019 league year if he doesn't play well enough to stick around. The Super Bowl MVP from 2013 signed a five-year contract with San Francisco last spring after two underwhelming seasons with the Raiders.

Malcolm Smith will be 30 by the 2019 season and the 49ers could look for an eventual replacement

Again, I wouldnt be mad at it, However, its a deep class. Why not snag a LB in round 3, and instead target a need from a less deep talent pool?

LB is certainly the safest pick, especially if the choice is Smith, but i dont think its the biggest impact pick, and i also dont think LB will be BPA at 9. I think a top 5 prospect, possibly top 3 talent, will fall to us as well.

Originally posted by IdahoNiner:

Again, I wouldnt be mad at it, However, its a deep class. Why not snag a LB in round 3, and instead target a need from a less deep talent pool?

Exactly why the 49ers don't need Derwin James. Its a deep safety class. They can get a guy just as good in Round 3, 4 or heck even 5.


Just because there is depth doesn't mean the talent is equivalent.


If they see Roquan, Minkah, James, Landry or whomever as BPA then I am down. This team has a plethora of needs across the roster.

LB is certainly the safest pick, especially if the choice is Smith, but i dont think its the biggest impact pick, and i also dont think LB will be BPA at 9. I think a top 5 prospect, possibly top 3 talent, will fall to us as well.

Basically I expect Roquan, Minkah, Ward or Trey Down.


I don't see Chubb, Nelson or Barkley getting to the 49ers. Those are the top 3 non-QB prospects in the draft.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by IdahoNiner:
Again, I wouldnt be mad at it, However, its a deep class. Why not snag a LB in round 3, and instead target a need from a less deep talent pool?

Exactly why the 49ers don't need Derwin James. Its a deep safety class. They can get a guy just as good in Round 3, 4 or heck even 5.

Just because there is depth doesn't mean the talent is equivalent.

LB is certainly the safest pick, especially if the choice is Smith, but i dont think its the biggest impact pick, and i also dont think LB will be BPA at 9. I think a top 5 prospect, possibly top 3 talent, will fall to us as well.

Basically I expect Roquan, Minkah, Ward or Trey Down.

I don't see Chubb, Nelson or Barkley getting to the 49ers. Those are the top 3 non-QB prospects in the draft.

Chubb is gone at 2 likely. 4 the latest. I still think there is a long shot Nelson or Barkley fall.

I obviously like James better than Minkah, but think he will be gone as well.

Of the three choices you listed, i take Ward.

Originally posted by IdahoNiner:

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by IdahoNiner:
Did i miss their visits with Smith or Edmunds?

https://ninerswire.usatoday.com/2018/04/03/nfl-draft-update-49ers-to-host-georgia-linebacker-roquan-smith-on-visit/

They've also met with Rashaan Evans.

I didnt know about Smith. However, i think we can do better at #9 then to replace our first round pick last season, with another first round pick. Just my .02

I agree. The thread about the new rules kind of pushes me to lean towards your opinion. http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/nfl/190714-new-rule-banning-lowering-helmet/page12/

I just think teams are getting more and more away from the fullback position as a running position and more as a passing position (at least Kyle is going in that direction). If you want a MLB to cover, might as well speed the position up and lower the size to help in the quickness and agility area. Now you are looking at a strong safety kind of an athlete vs a Dick Butkus kind of MLB. I think you can get a good athlete - maybe 95% of a Patrick Willis - in the 2nd and 3rd rounds from an athletic point of view. Where teams can avoid the Ahmad Brooks - make a good slobberknocking tackle that is called a penalty and gives the opposing offense a 15 yard gain - is via the pass rush and pass defense. Hit the QB before he can throw, or rush him and make the QB misfire on his accuracy, from a pass defense point of view, load up on strong safties and have that be a deep position so that you can knock down passes before the receiver can catch the ball. Once the receiver catches the ball - you basically can't touch him unless the receiver sees the tackler and makes preparation to be hit. I just think the new pass happy rules and concussion protection rules really favor getting away from the Linebacker as a central defender role in a defense, and pushes it more towards the edge rusher and strong safety roles.

I have a hard time drafting a Guard in the top 10! I think putting Nelson in a zone blocking system would waste his talent, dude would dominate in a man/gap scheme...

Originally posted by IdahoNiner:

Chubb is gone at 2 likely. 4 the latest. I still think there is a long shot Nelson or Barkley fall.

I obviously like James better than Minkah, but think he will be gone as well.

Of the three choices you listed, i take Ward.

It comes down to what the team sees as a need.



I could see Lynch and Shanahan both fall in love with Minkah and Roquan. Both were top performers on top college defenses, both film junkies, both guys with leadership quotients through the ceiling, both bring some versatility, outstanding athleticism and high football IQ.



Either one fits this scheme very well.