There’s a long way to go before the 49ers decide who their Sam linebacker is going to be. It’s one of the few open starting jobs on the roster, although given the deployment of personnel in modern defenses calling the third LB a “starting” job is a small stretch.
Still, the third linebacker in the 49ers’ base 4-3 defense is an important spot that requires a level of versatility as a run stopper who’s also not out of place in coverage. That’s where second-year former undrafted free agent Marcelino McCrary-Ball comes in.
