Each week leading up to the start of training camp, 49ers.com will assess the team's roster as we get closer to the season. In this installment of the 2024 roster breakdown, we will take a look at the linebacker position.
Previous Installments: Quarterbacks | Offensive Line | Defensive Line | Cornerbacks | Running Backs | Defensive Backs, Safeties
Heading into the 2024 season, the San Francisco 49ers boast one of the NFL's most formidable linebacker units, ranked second by Pro Football Focus. Led by Fred Warner, who has consistently excelled with PFF grades above 80.0 for four consecutive seasons, the 49ers linebacking corps is anchored by his All-Pro playmaking ability and leadership on the field.
"Warner has been the gold standard at linebacker over the past four seasons, ranking as one of the position's 10 highest-graded players each year," analyst Gordon McGuinness wrote. "His eight combined pass breakups and interceptions in the regular season and playoffs in 2023 were tied for the second most among linebackers."
Dre Greenlaw, another key contributor, is working his way back from a significant Achilles injury he sustained in Super Bowl LVIII that will delay the start of his regular season. To bolster the unit, the 49ers signed All-Pro linebacker De'Vondre Campbell Sr. and Ezekiel Turner in free agency, who help provide depth and experience, crucial in light of Greenlaw's injury status.
Additionally, the team re-signed Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and Curtis Robinson over the offseason and selected Tatum Bethune with the 251st-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Linebackers Oren Burks and Randy Gregory departed in free agency to the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, respectively.
Position Breakdown
- Tatum Bethune – 1st Season
- De'Vondre Campbell Sr. – 9th Season
- Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles – 5th Season
- Jalen Graham – 2nd Season
- Dre Greenlaw – 6th Season
- Curtis Robinson – 3rd Season
- Ezekiel Turner – 7th Season
- Fred Warner – 7th Season
- Dee Winters – 2nd Season
Linebackers Breakdown
The 49ers selected Bethune in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft from Florida State University.
The linebacker appeared in 61 games over five seasons at Florida State (2022-23) and Central Florida (2019-21) and recorded 339 tackles (28 tackles-for-loss), 7.5 sacks, 10 passes defended, four interceptions and two forced fumbles. In 2023, Bethune appeared in 13 games (10 starts) and recorded a team-high 70 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss, three passes defended and one interception, earning Third-Team All-ACC honors.
Campbell is entering his ninth year in the NFL, and his first year with the 49ers. The linebacker was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Throughout his eight-year career with the Falcons (2016-19), Arizona Cardinals (2020) and Green Bay Packers (2021-23) he has appeared in 115 games (110 starts) and recorded 778 tackles, 28 passes defended, 9.5 sacks, seven interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), eight forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Campbell was named an AP First-Team All-Pro in 2021 with Green Bay after logging a career-high 145 tackles, 2.0 sacks, five passes defended, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
In 2023, Campbell started in 11 games for Green Bay and tallied 75 tackles, one pass defended and one fumble recovery as well as two postseason games where he added 16 tackles, 1.0 sack and two passes defended.
Flannigan-Fowles is entering his sixth season with the 49ers. In March, the linebacker signed a one-year extension with the team. He originally joined the team as an undrafted free agent ahead of the 2019 season.
After spending his rookie season on the team's practice squad, he has appeared in 61 games and recorded 48 tackles, 1.0 sack and five tackles-for-loss as well as 31 tackles on special teams over the following four seasons (2020-23). Flannigan-Fowles has also appeared in nine postseason games, adding five tackles and seven special teams tackles.
In 2023, Flannigan-Fowles appeared in all 16 games and notched 17 tackles, four tackles-for-loss and one pass defended. He also added two special teams tackles.
Graham is entering his second season with the 49ers. He was selected by the team in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
In his rookie year, Graham appeared in four games with the team.
This year, Greenlaw enters his sixth season in the NFL. He was selected by the team in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Throughout his first five years in the league, Greenlaw has appeared in 62 games and recorded 446 tackles, 18 tackles-for-loss, nine QB hits, 14 passes defended, three interceptions. The linebacker finished the 2023 season with 120 tackles (five for a loss), four passes defended and 1.0 sack.
Robinson enters his third season with the 49ers this year. He originally entered the NFL by signing with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2021, later joining the 49ers practice squad that season.
Throughout his three-year career in Denver (2021) and San Francisco (2021-23), Robinson has appeared in 12 games and tallied nine tackles and one QB hit. He finished the 2023 season on the team's practice squad, and in February, the 49ers signed Robinson as a free agent.
Turner enters his seventh season in the NFL this year, and his first with the 49ers. He originally entered the NFL after signing with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
Throughout his six-year career with the Cardinals, he appeared in 80 games and recorded 28 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, one forced fumble and 29 tackles on special teams. In 2023, Turner appeared in 16 games for the Cardinals and tallied 10 tackles and four tackles on special teams.
Warner enters his seventh season in the NFL this year. He was selected by the team in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Throughout his first six years in the league, Warner has appeared in 98 games and recorded 766 tackles, 31 tackles-for-loss, 28 QB hits, 46 passes defended and eight interceptions. In 2023, Warner recorded 2.5 sacks, 132 tackles (six for loss), 11 pass deflections, four interceptions returned for 66 yards (tied for first among NFL linebackers) and four forced fumbles (tied for first among NFL linebackers). All of his 2023 records, except tackles, were career highs for Warner.
Warner is a three-time Pro Bowl, three-time AP First-Team All-Pro team captain and has been listed as Pro Football Focus' top-ranked linebacker ahead of the 2024 campaign.
Winters is entering his second season with the 49ers. He was selected by the team in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
In his rookie year, Winters appeared in 15 games with the team, recording 10 tackles and one pass defended.
