The San Francisco 49ers invested a first round pick in the defensive line three straight seasons in 2015 (Arik Armstead), 2016 (DeForest Buckner), and 2016 (Solomon Thomas). Armstead has bounced inside and outside, and will handle the big end position in his fourth season. Thomas started at big end last year, but is moving over to the LEO weak side end position this season. Both Thomas and Armstead are expected to move inside on passing down situations.
We don’t know for sure what to make of either Armstead or Thomas because of injuries for the former and only one season under his belt for the latter.