49ers Draft Capsule: Linebackers

Based on the 49er position profile, they can look in the late third but probably don’t select a linebacker until the 5th or 6th.

49ers linebacker coach Johnny Holland is one of the league’s best. A key to his success is developing a position profile that allows the team to skip the early rounds and look for undersized elite athletes late in the draft. Linebacker/safety hybrids with speed to shoot the gaps and pursue to the sideline, the power to hit with violence, and the feet for pass coverage.

Based on the 49er position profile, they can look in the late third but probably don’t select a linebacker until the 5^th or 6^th.

Tier 1: 1st-3rd Round
Top 50 Jack Campbell (Iowa) 6-5/149
Top 50 Trenton Simpson (Clemson) 6-2/234
Top 50 Drew Sanders (Arkansas) 6-4/236
Top 50 Daiyan Henley (Washington St) 6-1/225
Top 75 Dorian Williams (Tulane) 6-1/228
Top 75 Nick Herbig (Wisconsin) 6-2/240

Tier 2: Late 3rd-4th Round
Top 100 DeMarvion Overshown (Texas) 6-3/229
4^th Ivan Pace Jr. (Cincinnati) 5-10/231
4^th Noah Sewell (Oregon) 6-2/246
4^th Henry To’oTo’o (Alabama) 6-1/227
4^th Owen Pappoe (Auburn) 6-0/225
4^th Cam Jones (Indiana) 6-1/227

Overshown fits the 49er profile in all aspects, but the team may not be willing to spend a Top 100 pick at linebacker. To’oTo’o (pronounced Toe-oh-Toe-oh) is the draft’s best diagnostician at linebacker, he’s always at the right place at the right time, but he doesn’t play with violence. The Niners met with Jones, he has 4.61 closing speed and plays with physicality, but he lacks power with only 17 bench reps.

Tier 3: 5th-7th Round
Late 4th-Early 5th Jeremy Banks (Tennessee) 6-1/232 – 4.53/1.56 speed, 37.5 vertical, 127 broad jump, he has great athleticism and explosion. Banks is also solid on coverage with a 64% catch rate against, which is in the top ten in the class. He needs to add power.

Early-to-Mid 5th Anfernee Orji (Vanderbilt) 6-1/230 – Explosive (38.5 vertical) and fast (4.53/1/54), Orji is among the national leaders in stops (tackles at or behind the LOS) at 46. The seek and destroy linebacker the 49ers covet, but his pass coverage is poor, 90% catch rate against.

Late 5th-Early 6th Mohamoud Diabate (Utah) 6-3/229 – A converted defensive lineman still learning the position. Great athleticism with 4.52 speed and a best in the country 132 broad jump. Seven sacks and 26 pressures, 31 stops, but a high missed tackle rate and catch rate. He needs to be coached up. The Niners are rumored to have a strong interest in Diabate and have met with him.

6th Round Dee Winters (TCU) 5-11/227 – Played his best in the playoffs vs. K-State, Michigan and Georgia. Nine sacks, 30 pressures, 40 stops. Good speed at 4.49/1.56, but he lacks the size and power to free himself from blocks.

Late 6th Round-Early 7th SirVocea Dennis (Pittsburgh) 6-0/227 – Pronounced Sir-voss-E-eh. Tested well 4.64, 41.5 vertical, 125 broad jump, Dennis plays sideline-to-sideline, shoots the gaps, hits, is a money tackler, and his pass coverage is solid. His only flaw is power, just 19 bench reps.

7th Round Ben VanSumeren (Michigan St) 6-2/231 – Excellent athleticism with 4.45 speed, 42.5 vertical and 131 broad jump, he also has power with 29 bench reps. But for all that, it doesn’t show up on the field. He’s a big ball of clay pick.

Prediction

The pick is most likely to come out of Tier 3 led by Diabate, Dennis, Orji, and Banks.