[PFF] 49ers LB unit ranked #1 headed into 2023
Jun 20, 2023
The easy choice for the top spot, San Francisco fielded the highest-graded linebacker group in the NFL last season. They finished second in the NFL in run-defense grade (90.7) and led the NFL with an outstanding 88.5 coverage grade.
The 49ers boast two legitimate stars in Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. Warner is the NFL’s most consistent coverage linebacker and posted a career-high 89.7 run-defense grade this past season, too. Greenlaw had a career year in 2022, earning a 79.6 overall grade bolstered by a nearly 20-point jump in coverage grade.
The group lost situational run defender Azeez Al-Shaair in free agency, but Oren Burks seems poised to take over that role.
The 49ers have the best pair of linebackers in football and the depth to fill in if one of them were to suffer a short-term injury. They are the current gold standard at the position.
Can’t wait to watch this team in the fall!
Same. Definitely can't wait to see what Hargrave brings to the dline to free up our backers or maybe we can get some more exotic looking blitz packages in.
It's crazy how we consistently have great linebackers. Willis, Bowman, Borland (briefly) now Warner and Greenlaw, you just love to see it.