Alexander was a player the 49ers targeted early when the free agency negotiating period kicked off on Monday morning. Steve Wyche seems to love the imminent signing. He joined KNBR on Tuesday morning and discussed the 49ers' newest linebacker.
"This is a player, if he comes back healthy, it may take him a little bit, my God, he is a hell of a player," Wyche said on the "Murph and Mac" show. "He is a fantastic player. They want to use him in that WILL linebacker role, in the scheme that they use, so he's going to be someone in coverage.
"He's very good in coverage. He's a three-down linebacker, but he's super fast. That's one thing that they feel they really need to incorporate into that defense — a little more speed. He can cover the tight end. He can cover a running back. That allows you to scheme some things a little differently on defense."
Wyche adds that he has spoken to the 49ers and the team feels Alexander will add something special to the defense.
One of the knocks on the 24-year-old linebacker over his four-year NFL career has been his high number of missed tackles. Alexander had the most missed tackles (70) of any inside linebacker in the NFL between 2015 and 2017, according to Pro Football Focus.
"It's literally a mixed bag on his resume because I've seen a lot of Kwon Alexander," Wyche added. "He's a hell of a player. He's an exciting player. He's a disruptive player.
"The key thing, and we see it every year with some free agents coming over and creating all this excitement and then all of a sudden it flops, is how they fit into what you do schematically. A lot of times you see these guys coming from 3-4 defenses who are great, go to 4-3s and disappear.
"This is definitely a system fit. He's a 4-3 linebacker. Again, I've seen him. (With) the speed and disruption he causes at all levels, I think this could be a very, very good fit."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Wyche below.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' most important second-year player might surprise you
Who is the most important second-year player on the San Francisco 49ers roster? A player's sophomore NFL season is often a pivotal stage in their development. After experiencing the demands of a full NFL offseason and regular season, many young players begin to play faster and... -
49ers X-Factors: 3 Players Who Could Raise the Defense's Ceiling in 2026
Most people start by talking about the stars when they discuss the San Francisco 49ers' defense. Nick Bosa. Fred Warner. Dre Greenlaw. But championship defenses need more than just star players. They come together when talented players step up and help everyone around them... -
Ochocinco weighs in on the 49ers-Brandon Aiyuk drama
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk made headlines over the weekend with a series of eyebrow-raising moves, including sharing photos of himself wearing a Washington Commanders hat and posting messages that appeared to take aim at his current team. It's clear that... -
49ers linked to Steelers' Alex Highsmith in potential trade scenario
The San Francisco 49ers expect the eventual returns of Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams from ACL injuries to provide a significant boost to a pass rush that struggled to generate consistent pressure last season. The team also invested in the position during the offseason, selecting...