Apr 28, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers first round draft pick linebacker Reuben Foster answers questions from the media during the press conference at Levi's Stadium Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers have had a wonderful offseason in 2017. Headlining this year are the hiring of new general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan. One of their best decisions could have been selecting linebacker Reuben Foster with the 2017 NFL Draft’s 31st overall pick. Niner Noise breaks down a potential 2018 Pro Bowl player and his journey to the 49ers.

San Francisco 49ers’ linebacker Reuben Foster’s journey to the NFL came on a slightly rugged road.

At February’s NFL Scouting Combine, the former Alabama superstar had a little bit of a mishap. He was dismissed after an argument with a hospital worker.

At the time, no one knew exactly what led to the incident. NFL.com’s Charley Casserly talked about the incident here. Casserly is a wily veteran of the NFL and its entities, and read the situation perfectly without the whole story. Over a month later, the whole story came out.

NFL Network and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported the combine incident stemmed from a diluted drug test. All media platforms obviously told an overblown version of this story, as Foster claimed it wasn’t something that would happen again.

“I apologized for that, I’ve learned from it.” “That’s in the past and it won’t happen again.”

Knowing he would be placed in the NFL’s Substance Abuse Program Foster said, “Put me in the program. Test me.”

Once selected with the 31st pick in Round 1, everyone knew the football player the 49ers were getting. NFL Network and NFL.com’s own draft expert Mike Mayock compared Foster to the Carolina Panther’s LB Luke Kuechly.

The 49ers new general manager John Lynch also knew what he was getting and trusted Foster throughout the process.

According to Sam Hustis of knbr.com, Lynch was quoted as saying:

I would anticipate people maybe questioning some of his character, but I will tell you his character is what drew us to him. When you start talking football with this young man he lights up a room. And he’s a good kid. I believe in the kid. He’ll be a great player for this organization for a long time.

Putting everything above together, really paints a beautiful portrait, for 49er fans, for Foster’s early success. Our own James LeBreton wrote about Foster’s ability to be immediately inserted into the team’s starting defensive rotation as a WILL (ROLB)– which I agree with completely by the way.

Let’s go a step further and talk about:

Foster’s Character His Passion And his Physical Ability

These elements all equal a great player who is destined for great success. Foster’s shoulder injury was his only real problem.

But according to GM Lynch, it won’t be a problem. In “Lynch We Trust” 49er Faithful. Get ready for 2017!