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Ranking top-25 49ers: No. 21 Quinton Dial

Before the start of training camp at the end of July, we’ll rank the top 25 49ers based on production at their position, physical attributes, upside and expected impact in 2017.

No. 21: Quinton Dial, DT

Perhaps no 49ers position group has been talked about more this offseason than the defensive line. It’s warranted. The team used the third-overall pick in the NFL draft on Solomon Thomas after taking Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner in Round 1 the previous two years. And it’s changing from a 3-4 to a 4-3.

Even with all that chatter, Quinton Dial has slid under the radar. The five-year veteran will give San Francisco a versatile depth piece behind their highly drafted trio, and likely a stronger option against the run in early downs than Thomas and Armstead, who are better pass rushers than run defenders.

Dial can play three of the four spots along the defensive line in Robert Saleh’s new scheme. He can play ‘big’ end, also called the five-technique, on the strong side and slide down the line to nose tackle and three technique, the defensive tackle spot on the weak side. The only spots he likely won’t play along the front are LEO and SAM, which designated for more natural edge pass rushers like Elvis Dumervil, Ahmad Brooks, Aaron Lynch and Eli Harold.

Armstead has gotten the most time at LEO with the starters during practices open to reporters this spring, although it remains to be seen if he’s a good fit after mostly playing along the interior during his first two seasons.

(Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Dial, 26, will likely be the first lineman off the bench in early downs, subbing at nose tackle or three technique for Earl Mitchell and Buckner, and likely come off the field in obvious passing scenarios, when San Francisco goes with a Nascar-like package of Armstead, Buckner, Thomas and Dumervil/Lynch/Harold/Tank Carradine.

The 2013 fifth-round pick from Alabama played 41 percent of the defensive snaps last season while missing two games late in the year with knee and elbow injuries. The 49ers plan on rotating far more along the defensive line, which could mean a similar workload for Dial as backup and plug-in starter.

Dial before last season signed a modest three-year, $12.68-million extension through 2019. It’s likely he sticks around through the length of the contract given his versatility and leadership within the D-line room. The 49ers will need players around Buckner, Armstead and Thomas to help manage their loads and sub in when needed.

Dial spoke to NBC Sports Bay Area about his role for the coming year given the team invested first-round picks along the D-line in the last three drafts.

“I’m not really concerned about it,” Dial told NBC Sports Bay Area. “My name will be said a lot in the fall. I’m going to make my presence be known when the season gets here. That’s the least of my worries, having the media talk about me. I know how hard I worked this offseason to get to where I’m at now.”

The major shift for the defensive front is the new scheme is amplifying one-gap techniques after working primarily in a two-gap system in recent seasons.

“I played a 3-4 scheme, so that’s primarily two-gapping,” Dial said. “And now we’re just a one-gap defense. That’s totally different. So, now, you’re basically shooting a gap and penetrating instead of reading. So that’s quite an adjustment I have to make, but it’ll be good.”

The 49ers last season were counting on Dial to play a lot of nose tackle after Ian Williams was ruled out for the year following another ankle surgery and the come back from Glenn Dorsey off his torn ACL the previous season. San Francisco this year is in a far better spot at nose tackle with the additions of Mitchell, the return of Chris Jones and promising sixth-round pick D.J. Jones from Ole Miss.

Those additions should put Dial in a good spot working as a dependable backup and mentor to the three highly drafted linemen needing development to solidify the future of the position.

Previous rankings:

No. 22: Joe Williams
No. 23: Vance McDonald
No. 24: Ahkello Witherspoon
No. 25: K’Waun Williams

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