While the San Francisco 49ers will get Fred Warner back from injury in 2026, they could lose Eric Kendricks, Curtis Robinson, Luke Gifford and Garret Wallow in free agency this offseason.
With that, the 49ers may want to add depth at the position, and they’re continuing their search for options, as Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher shared on Wednesday that he’s met with San Francisco at the 2026 NFL combine.
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Boettcher, 23, is one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft. He was a three-star recruit out of South Eugene High School in Eugen, Oregon, before committing to play for the Oregon Ducks in 2021.
Over the past four years, he appeared in 55 games and recorded 269 tackles, 10 passes defensed, four sacks, four forced fumbles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery. He also earned All-Big Ten honors twice and All-American honors once.
At the same time, Boettcher played baseball at Oregon and hit .242 with 14 home runs, 48 RBIs and a .785 OPS. His efforts on the diamond led to the Houston Astros using their 13th-round pick on Boettcher in 2024 MLB draft.
Boettcher is fully committed to football now, and he’s projected to be a Day-3 pick to his average size, speed and athleticism. However, the 49ers could take him later in the draft and allow him to learn and grow under their strong trio of Fred Warner, Dee Winters and Tatum Bethune.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 2026 NFL combine: 49ers have met with Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher