What makes a good outside linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers a year ago and what makes one now aren’t necessarily that different. They are technically switching to a 4-3 defense, but they played an awful lot of that already in recent years. Across the league, teams are playing the fifth defensive back more and more, and that has often resulted in the loss of an inside linebacker.
And with the 49ers, having outside linebackers who specialize in rushing the passer also worked out in their favor. Aaron Lynch put his hand in the ground an awful lot when he was healthy, and the 49ers have invested heavily in the defensive line.