The 49ers currently own the second overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, which kicks off on April 27.
Foster was a popular choice as the 49ers' selection within numerous mock drafts. Of course, that was before an incident with a student hospital worker resulted in the prospect being sent home from the NFL Scouting Combine early. He is still expected to be a high selection and likely the top linebacker in the draft.
Following the incident, Foster wrote an apology letter to all 32 NFL teams.
Letter Alabama LB Reuben Foster sent to NFL teams, offering up another meeting with him: pic.twitter.com/pjzzzrOAhe
As a senior at Alabama in 2016, Foster finished with 115 tackles, 13 for losses, and five sacks. He was awarded the Butkus Award, which is given to the nation's best linebacker. The 6-foot, 229-pound Foster, who will turn 23 in April, has 211 tackles, 23 of which were for a loss, seven sacks, and nine passes defended in three years with Alabama.
Foster was not scheduled to participate in on-field drills at the NFL Scouting Combine. In February, the Alabama linebacker underwent surgery on his right shoulder to repair a torn rotator cuff. The injury will prevent Foster from working out for NFL teams prior to the NFL Draft.
Last season, the 49ers defense was last in the league in rushing yards allowed. The 2,654 yards allowed on the ground set a 49ers franchise record. The defense was also an NFL-worst in total yards allowed and points allowed.
Rapoport: 49ers won't reveal choice at No. 3 until draft, haven't informed prospects
By David Bonilla
Apr 26, 2021
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported on Sunday night that the San Francisco 49ers had narrowed their choice for the No. 3 overall pick to Mac Jones of Alabama versus Trey Lance of North Dakota State. That means Justin Fields of Ohio State is likely out of the running.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch will make fans sweat a little more over the next three days, though. The team has no plans to tip its hand before it is on the clock on Thursday night.
From NFL Now: The
La Canfora: Strong expectation among NFL GMs that 49ers try to trade Jimmy Garoppolo this week
By David Bonilla
Apr 27, 2021
The San Francisco 49ers have repeatedly stated that quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo remains in the team's plans for 2021. That would mean a rookie sitting behind him for at least the upcoming season, which makes sense. The 49ers are built to win now and have shown they can do so with Garoppolo at the helm. However, his durability has become a concern after missing 23 games over the past three seasons.
Maybe that won't remain the plan.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that there is a "very strong" expectation around the league that San Francisco will make an effort to trade Garoppolo before or even during the draft.
"Timing isn't great with 5 QBs about to go in 1st round, but Jimmy G's future there now seen as bleak," wrote La Canfora via
2021 NFL Draft: Mel Kiper, other experts hand out 49ers draft grades
By David Bonilla
May 2, 2021
The 2021 NFL Draft is in the books, which means it's time for the "experts" to hand out their annual grades of each team's new rookie class.
Below are the grades issued by some of the more well-known analysts and writers within the media and what they had to say about the San Francisco 49ers' newest crop of rookies. Included are quotes from each analyst's explanation for the awarded grade.
49ers Draft Picks
Round 1: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
Round 2: Aaron Banks, G, Notre Dame
Round 3: Trey Sermon, RB, Ohio State
Round 3: Ambry Thomas, CB, Michigan
Round 5: Jaylon Moore, OT, Western Michigan
Round 5: Deommodore Lenoir, CB, Oregon
Round 5: Talanoa Hufanga, S, USC
Round 6: Elijah Mitchell, RB,
Steve Mariucci picks Justin Fields for 49ers in NFL Network live mock draft
By Kirk Larrabee
Apr 25, 2021
Making a choice for the 49ers in Sunday's NFL Network live draft didn't seem to come easy for Steve Mariucci, but when the time came for him to put on the GM hat for his former team, he made the decision many fans hope to see come to fruition when the real draft gets underway Thursday night.
Mariucci was a natural fit to make the call at pick three in the NFL Network's draft, which featured 32 different personalities making selections for the 32 NFL teams. Mariucci, who was the head coach in San Francisco from 1997 to 2002 and is now an analyst for the NFL Network, says his choice would be Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields instead of Alabama quarterback Mac Jones and North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance.
"I'm going to take Justin Fields," Mariucci said.
