The San Francisco 49ers are heading into the NFL draft with some needs at various positions and linebacker in one area they could look at after the injury to NaVorro Bowman and the team may also look at the free agent market, as names like Jonathan Vilma, Desmond Bishop, Dan Connor, Nick Barnett, Paris Lenon, Larry Grant and Larry Foote could be potential targets.
According to ESPN.com, those are some of the names on the market that the Niners could go after and this comes after GM Trent Baalke said that the team could look into veteran options on the market along with players in the draft. The team lost Bowman to an ACL injury last season and that could keep him out for at least half of the season and that would be a huge blow for the 49ers, who are usually strong up the middle with Patrick Willis. The team now could sign one of the veteran players for depth while also going for a younger player in the draft to develop behind Bowman and Willis.
Last season the team defense was once again excellent and the Niners ranked in the top 10 in both passing and rushing yards allowed per game. Bowman tore his MCL and ACL in that injury and that came in the matchup against the Seattle Seahawks in the playoffs and now Bowman could be out for up to half the season. The team realized this would be a possibility and now that names like Brandon Spikes and Julius Peppers have signed, they could look to the draft and free agency instead. Bowman has been a first team All-Pro player and is a former Pro Bowler and he has been one of the most productive linebackers for the team over the past couple years and last season he was great with 145 tackles and five sacks.
CSN Bay Area reports that he could be replaced with a combination of veterans and young players and the Niners realizer they have to get him back healthy, as he is signed through 2019. Connor had just four tackles last season after being injured and Vilma is coming off of an injury as well. The Niners have some decisions to make and they could look to the draft for a boost.
