San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster missed six games during his rookie 2017 season, but his time on the field was enough to convince most experts that the youngster was a budding NFL star. He finished the season with 72 combined tackles and a pass defensed through his 10 game appearances.
Foster also finished the season with the team's highest player grade (90.7), according to Pro Football Focus, just edging second-year defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (90.4). The rookie was the fourth-highest graded linebacker behind only Bobby Wagner (Seahawks), Luke Kuechly (Panthers), and Lavonte David (Buccaneers). He was the highest-graded rookie linebacker this past season.
Foster was the only 49ers rookie to make Mel Kiper's 2017 All-Rookie Team. The ESPN draft analyst had the following to say about the selection of Foster to his NFL rookie All-Star squad:
"Foster played only 10 games, but he was a menace in the middle of the 49ers' defense. He had seven tackles for loss and 72 total tackles. He was one of my favorite 2017 prospects and my top-ranked inside linebacker. He's the reason the 49ers parted ways with longtime stalwart NaVorro Bowman earlier this season. Beckwith had a good year, but Foster played at an All-Pro level when he was on the field."
Foster was ranked eighth on Kiper's final pre-draft Big Board back in April.
Defensive end Solomon Thomas, who was selected with the third-overall pick, had made Kiper's mid-season All-Rookie team but failed to make the new list, which accounts for the whole season.