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The San Francisco 49ers already have one of the best defenses in the NFL.
That is thanks in part to the elite play at the linebacker position with All-Pro middle linebacker Fred Warner and veteran Dre Greenlaw.
What may scare other NFL teams and what also makes San Francisco’s eventual roster cutdown difficult is the preseason play of second-year linebackers Jalen Graham and Dee Winters.
“Jalen Graham and Dee Winters aren’t making 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s job any easier this summer,” NBC Sports Bay Area’s Joel Soria recently wrote.
Jalen Graham and Dee Winters’ strong preseasons have complicated the 49ers’ imminent roster cuts https://t.co/g1iGgJBZX8
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) August 22, 2024
Both are late-round picks from 2023 looking to make the final roster heading into their sophomore seasons.
Graham has recorded 10 total tackles this preseason, and Winters has recorded six total tackles in his own right.
Both have shown quality play-making ability and solid leadership.
However, this 49ers linebacker room is already fairly deep.
Warner leads the way as a three-time First-Team All-Pro, then comes Greenlaw, who will be out for a chunk of the upcoming season as he recovers from a torn Achilles that he suffered in the Super Bowl.
The team also added former All-Pro middle linebacker De’Vondre Campbell from the Green Bay Packers earlier this offseason.
Once Greenlaw returns to full health, how much playing time could Graham and Winter receive with all three of those guys playing at their best?
Perhaps Shanahan could use them on special teams with their youth and speed playing to their advantage.
For now, the two will have to put together solid performances in the team’s final preseason game this week in an effort to make the roster.
The post 2 Young Linebackers Are Having Strong Preseasons For 49ers appeared first on The Cold Wire.