49ers linebacker Reuben Foster was named to the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team on Tuesday. Foster is the only 49ers rookie to make the team for 2017. Third overall pick Solomon Thomas was not one of the four defensive linemen selected.
Foster, 23, looked like one of the top linebackers in the league when healthy during his first NFL season. Despite playing in just 10 games, Foster was ranked as the fourth best linebacker in football by Pro Football Focus. Foster finished the season with 72 tackles and seven tackles for loss. Foster missed five games with a high ankle sprain and another with a rib injury.
Foster was selected with the 31st pick in the draft, after the 49ers traded up from No. 34 to select a player they had third overall on their board. The pick was considered a steal at the time, as many had Foster as a top five talent in the draft, who fell after he was kicked out of the NFL combine and gave a diluted sample during a drug test while he was there. Foster was arrested over the weekend for marijuana possession in Alabama.
Here’s the full PFWA All-Rookie Team:
