Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks, two analysts for NFL Media, recently went through the exercise of naming NFL linebackers under the age of 30 who they would want for one play, drive, game, and over the next five years. Neither was allowed to repeat a player's name. That means, once Jeremiah or Brooks named a linebacker, that analyst could not select him again for another scenario.
Which player did Brooks select for the next five years? He went with second-year linebacker Reuben Foster of the San Francisco 49ers.
"Reuben Foster plays the game the way I want my inside linebackers to play," Brooks said. "He's violent. He's ferocious. He's instinctive. He's tough. He can be the quarterback on defense when need be, make all the play calls and the adjustments. This guy plays the game in an old-school fashion, but he has a new-school mentality.
"I love what Reuben Foster brings to the field. I think, in this defense, in year two, you're going to see him go to superstar level. Reuben Foster is going to be the gold standard for linebacker play in the next coming years."
"Rare, rare physical talent," Jeremiah added. "His ability to thump inside, to play physical, then also to have that range in coverage as well as just that lateral range, outstanding."
Below are the linebackers Jeremiah and Brooks selected for each scenario.
One Play
Jeremiah: Myles Jack, Jaguars
Brooks: C.J. Mosley, Ravens
One Drive
Jeremiah: Telvin Smith, Jaguars
Brooks: Luke Kuechly, Panthers
One Game
Jeremiah: Luke Kuechly, Panthers
Brooks: Bobby Wagner, Seahawks
Next Five Years
Jeremiah: Roquan Smith, Bears
Brooks: Reuben Foster, 49ers
Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
49ers express pre-draft interest in Penn State DB Jalen Kimber
By David Bonilla
14 mins
The San Francisco 49ers could target defensive backs in the 2025 NFL Draft after losing All-Pros Charvarius Ward and Talanoa Hufanga to free agency. One potential target is Penn State's Jalen Kimber.
During a recent interview with Justin Melo of The Draft Network, Kimber...
Source: 49ers Kyle Juszczyk passed on more money to stay in San Francisco
By Marc Adams
Mar 15
On Saturday morning, it was reported that the San Francisco 49ers are re-signing fullback Kyle Juszczyk after releasing him on Tuesday. Juszczyk, 33, agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal and is the 49ers' longest-tenured player. He joined the team as a free agent in 2017 and...
49ers mailbag: Will Brandon Aiyuk be traded? Are the 49ers rebuilding? When will Jake Moody be cut? Untouchable players?
By Marc Adams
Mar 15
It's been a week that fans of the San Francisco 49ers won't soon forget. After watching the team cut some popular players and fail to sign many of its own free agents while seemingly not doing much to improve the team, the fanbase has been a little traumatized over the past six...
Draft analyst says 49ers 2025 draft is the most important of Kyle Shanahan's nine years
By Marc Adams
Mar 15
The San Francisco 49ers 2025 draft "is the most important draft of [Kyle] Shanahan's nine years as the 49ers' coach." Those are the words of NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller of ESPN, who believes this is a critical offseason for Shanahan and GM John Lynch. And he's right.
The...
