The 49ers were willing to select Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster with the third overall pick if edge rushers Myles Garrett and Solomon Thomas were already off the board, and likely would have done so had the Bears not traded a bevy of draft choices to move up to No. 2, as Peter King of TheMMQB.com reports in a typically excellent piece from inside the San Francisco draft room.
Much of the 49ers front office — with the exception of chief strategy office Paraag Marathe — believed Chicago wanted to trade up for Thomas, and were surprised when the Bears ultimately selected North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky. San Francisco was comfortable with Foster at No. 3 despite an injured shoulder and off-field issues that included a diluted sample at the scouting combine, but still hoped to move back as far as No. 8 before drafting him. Instead, the Niners took 150 cents on the dollar (according to Chase Stuart of Football Perspective) in order to move down one spot.
After selecting Thomas third overall, the 49ers figured Foster would be gone by the middle of the first round, as general manager John Lynch pegged Cincinnati as a likely destination while head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t think Foster would get past Baltimore at No. 16. But as Foster continued to tumble throughout the first round, San Francisco began to discuss a trade with the division rival Seahawks. Ultimately, the 49ers dealt No. 34 and No. 111 for Seattle’s No. 31, and used that newly-acquired pick to add Foster, the third overall player on their board.
While getting Foster at the end of the first round can certainly be considered a coup, the Alabama ‘backer’s injury issues might not be in the rearview mirror. A source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com that Foster’s shoulder surgery “didn’t take,” while some clubs are reportedly worried Foster’s rookie campaign could be a lost cause due to health questions. While the 49ers found Foster’s medicals to be adequate, one source tells Schefter that Foster’s shoulder “could give out on any hit.” Indeed, some NFL teams “medically rejected” Foster due to concerns about his shoulder, tweets Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports.
Additionally, it’s not a great look for Lynch and the 49ers staff that they were willing to use the third overall pick on a player who ultimately fell to the end of Round 1. Clearly, picking Foster at No. 3 would have been a reach based on the end results of the draft, and it’s fair to question whether San Francisco’s personnel department had thoroughly evaluated Foster (and his potential for being drafted in the top half of the first round).
Of course they would say that after the fact.
Peter King reported this entire story while embedded in the 49ers’ draft room, so it’s not really after the fact.
Not going to lie, for a newbie GM lynch had one hell of a draft tbh
it was one heck of a draft by the 49ers and im glad they took the risk on foster even if he has to miss the season. the 49ers could have a solid young d for years to come. moving to 4-3 might be the best move for the 49ers
Not sure I buy this. Can’t believe Foster is third best player, and still lasted til #31.
Think they’re pushing this to deflect questions about their real draft strategy. Also helps to pump up Foster’s ego, helping contract negotiations. No down side to pushing this story.
He was the 49ers 3 overall ranked player. Teams rank players differently using all their evaluations like Medicals, doesn’t mean he was the third best player in the draft. The 49ers front office ranked him as their 3rd overall.
How do you figure they are deflecting? They are stating their strategy and it played out and got the guys they wanted…..
draft picks contracts are now and have been for 4 years slotted to where they are picked so there isn’t much negotiations involved anymore. Not sure any of these guys need their ego inflated lmao
Your post makes 0 sense
People are going to say they didn’t take him for this or that but he’s still a hell of an athlete and is a beast at the LB position. You put him, Bowman and Lynch out there with Armstead, Buckner, Thomas and other defensive lineman they have and they are greatly approved up front with guys who can tackle and put pressure on the QB. I’m really happy with this draft and I think they’ve improved greatly on defense this offseason even with cutting Brock. Brick got burned so much the last two years it’s not even funny. I think between the draft and the young guys we have at CB we will do ok in the secondary and our front 7 is vastly improved! I’m stoked to see what this team can with the new coaching staff. I’m not crazy, I know we aren’t going to go from 2-14 to a playoff team but we should finish with a better record with maybe around 7-9 or even 8-8 and if we can snag a QB next off season and maybe even more help in the secondary we should easily be a playoff team next season (not this coming up season). That’s not unrealistic. I think Lynch and Shanahan have had a really good offseason and a great draft! Foster may end up not playing a whole
Season but even if that’s the case he is worth the pick and should be a great player for this team for many season to come.
The 49ers and the Bucs won the draft in my opinion. The only pick i didn’t like for the 49ers in the Iowa QB but who knows they might see something in him that nobody else does and he could be the next Dak but I have my doubts. While we are on this topic i do think that there was a “Dak” like QB drafted in the draft but he won’t start year one and that is Josh Dobbs