When the San Francisco 49ers released linebacker Malcolm Smith on Tuesday, they were doing Smith a favor so he can catch on with another team. The free agent didn’t work out, and it was time to move on. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said releasing Smith shows the confidence that the team has in their linebacker group.
To me, it signals that the defense continues to evolve, and are looking for players that have versatility. For a rookie, Dre Greenlaw has been as versatile as it gets. Here is where Greenlaw has lined up in the preseason:
DL: 3
LB: 70
SCB: 6
CB: 1
FS: 1
If that’s not versatile, I’m not sure what qualifies.