Report: Reuben Foster could have gone No. 2 overall if not for combine incident
If Reuben Foster can keep himself out of trouble in the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers will undoubtedly feel like they got the steal of the 2017 draft after they selected the former Alabama star with the 31st overall pick.
Foster’s stock fell a bit after he was involved in an incident with a hospital worker at the NFL Scouting Combine. It was later revealed that he also failed a drug test due to a diluted sample. Prior to all that, Foster was projected as a top-10 pick. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the 49ers had even considered taking the linebacker at No. 2.
.@AdamSchefter just told @975Mornings that members of the 49ers front office considered R. Foster with the 2nd pick before Combine incident
— 975TheFanatic (@975TheFanatic) May 1, 2017
There’s obviously some risk in taking Foster due to his poor decision making, but the 49ers are thrilled they got a player they considered a top-two talent at the end of the first round. It has to be even more sweet that they were able to trade up a few spots to get Foster in part because of a pick they received from the Chicago Bears just for moving down to No. 3 overall from No. 2.
The comments new 49ers general manager John Lynch made about the team’s draft likely have a lot to do with the Foster pick. Foster is far more talented than his draft position reflects.
