Lavonte David, Buccaneers 6-0 • 226 pounds • 26 years old
An instinctive, mobile linebacker, David makes plays sideline to sideline. He has averaged 115 tackles in his nine seasons. He also excels against the pass with 12 career picks to go along with 52 PDs. He’s an incredibly durable player who has only missed five games in his career, and is still playing at a high level in his early 30’s.
Haason Reddick, Cardinals 6-1 • 235 • 26
For the first 3.5 years of his career, Reddick played inside linebacker and really didn’t distinguish himself. Last season, after multiple edge-rushers suffered injuries, Arizona used Reddick outside, and he exploded for 12.5 sacks, earning himself some good money in free agency.
Jayon Brown, Titans 6-0 • 226 • 26
In a pass-happy league loaded with talented tight ends, Brown should be in demand as one of the better coverage linebackers available. He had 16 PDs and 2 INTs the last two years in 24 games (he missed eight games due to injuries). He had elbow surgery late last season, so he will need to be cleared, and he’s only an average run defender.
Matt Milano, Bills 6-0 • 223 • 26
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EIGHT IS ENOUGH
Set 49ers lineup still has several new starters
Calling all cornerbacks
Loss of Verrett exposes 49ers’ thin depth at CB
Always finding their way to run
49ers system accomplished at developing homegrown talent
ANOTHER COMEBACK?
Resilient veteran Verrett to miss rest of season
TOP 10 Rookie running backs
THE BACK LIST
STOCK UP STOCK DOWN
DEOMMODORE LENOIR | AMBRY THOMAS
Will Mostert run for 49ers again?
Raheem Mostert was primed this year to be the centerpiece of one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses, featured as the lead performer in San Francisco’s grinding rushing attack while making his climb among the league’s top running backs.
THE WONDER OF WARNER
49ers make All-Pro star highest-paid LB in NFL
Making the right choice at QB
In the weeks that follow after you read this — and perhaps sometime even sooner than that — Kyle Shanahan and the rest of the 49ers organization will make a titanic decision that will have present, future and perhaps even everlasting implications for the franchise. It will chart the course for the team’s pivotal 2021 season while determining whether San Francisco really does have the juice to return to powerhouse status and again be considered a legitimate contender to get back to the Super Bowl.
TOP 10 Linebacker seasons
Fred Warner vaulted to stardom with a spectacular 2020 season — and the 49ers rewarded him this summer with a $95.225 million deal that makes him the highest-paid inside linebacker in NFL history. By today’s standards, Warner’s performance last year was worth the money as he posted an Approximate Value of 19 — matching the highest score ever recorded by a San Francisco defender according to a Pro Football Reference formula that puts a single number on each player-season across all positions since 1960. Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman (twice) also had seasons with an AV of 19 as they dominate this list of the greatest individual seasons by a linebacker in 49ers history.
