The San Francisco 49ers are plenty busy this week, finalizing their coaching staff and scouting out the Senior Bowl. The team has already begun meeting with players at the Senior Bowl. We won't find out all the meetings, or what of value came from the meetings, but we at least have some details.
On Tuesday, Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland confirmed he met with the 49ers, as well as the Packers, Bears and Buccaneers.
Alabama LB Reggie Ragland and Nick Saban. Ragland hasn't talked to the Falcons yet. Mentioned Bears and 49ers pic.twitter.com/fIbth90k7c
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) January 26, 2016
Dan Kadar currently has Ragland going No. 11 to the Chicago Bears in his latest mock draft. Ragland is an inside linebacker who would be able to start from day one. Scouting reports suggest his biggest asset is stopping the run, but he is not a liability in coverage.
NaVorro Bowman will be starting at one of the ILB positions next season. Michael Wilhoite and Gerald Hodges will compete for the other starting spot, with Shayne Skov more likely to focus on special teams. We don't really know how the 49ers view Hodges. He seems like the more high upside talent than Wilhoite, but is it enough for the team to not invest a high pick in an ILB?