NFL Training Camps: San Francisco 49ers Rookie Report
By Jon Dove
The San Francisco 49ers are counting on several of their 2017 NFL Draft picks on being major building blocks for the future.
Solomon Thomas and Reuben Foster are key parts of the San Francisco 49ers rebuilding plan. These two 1st round picks have the talent to be dominant forces on the defensive side of the ball. Their development will be instrumental on how quickly the 49ers can get back in contention.
Thomas will be asked to be a disruptive force along the defensive line. His combination of size, quickness and power allows him to work behind the line of scrimmage. Thomas is a versatile defender who can work off the edge or on the interior.
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He will line up along side former 1st round picks DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead. This trio has a chance to be a dominant force in the league.
Foster could’ve easily been a top-10 pick but dropped due to injury and character concerns. The injury issue has already surfaced with him missing some time with shoulder pain. It’s his shoulders that caused teams to drop him on their boards.
If healthy, Foster will be a major factor and one of the team’s starting linebackers. He’s a impact player who excels both as a run stuffer and in pass coverage.
Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon should see a lot of action as a rookie. He’s a strong cover corner who makes plays on the ball. His biggest weakness is as a run defender, but the 49ers need his coverage skills in the secondary.
Offensively, George Kittle has already turned some heads. He’s an H-Back type who will see action at tight end. Look for him to also see action on special teams. Running back Joe Williams is an explosive athlete who provides a big-play threat.
It’ll be interesting to see if the 49ers give CJ Beathard some run at quarterback this year. They used a 3rd round pick on him which suggests they see some starter potential. San Francisco knows what they have in veteran Brian Hoyer, but Beathard is an unknown.