San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch got his replica of Derrick Brooks, and former Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster officially has his contract signed for the organization.
Per the team’s website on Friday, the 49ers signed Foster to a four-year deal.
He was the second player taken by San Francisco in the first round – 31st selection – of the this year’s NFL Draft, following defensive end Solomon Thomas. The 6-foot-1, 229-pound thumper turned in a exceptional four-year career at Alabama, amassing 223 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, eight sacks, 11 pass breakups and 11 quarterback hurries. After sustaining minor injuries to his head and leg in 2013 and 2014, Foster emerged as an instinctive leader during his junior season.
He finished second on the team in tackles with 73, while aiding the Crimson Tide to a College Football Playoff National Championship in 2015. A native of Auburn, Ala., Foster became the ringleader of a very opportunistic defense a season ago. He led the team in tackles with 115, including 13 for loss and five sacks. To pair with his eight quarterback hurries and two pass breakups from 2016, Foster was the catalyst behind 106 sacks, 56 turnovers and 15 touchdowns for the Tide’s defense in the last two years. He earned the Butkus Award (nation’s top linebacker), first team All-SEC honors and unanimous All-American honors at the end of 2016.
Despite being regarded as the top-ranked inside linebacker in the 2017 draft class, Foster fell to the second to last pick of the first round. He’s now on a roster that boasts NaVorro Bowman, Quinton Dial, Elvis Dumervil and now, Solomon Thomas. Although the details concerning his contract were not released, Spotrac has Foster estimated at a little over $9 million with a $4.7 million signing bonus.
Stephen M. Smith is a managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
