While Kyle Shanahan will always be keen to promote competition on his roster, the reality for a loaded 49ers team is that most of the position battles this offseason are confined to backup roles.
Such contests are unlikely to generate wide interest, and that is especially true of the prospective fight at linebacker.
With Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw locked in as the long-term starters at middle and weak side linebacker, few would give the depth chart at arguably the 49ers’ strongest position a second thought.
Yet, Azeez Al-Shaair’s departure in free agency created a hole at strong side linebacker.